Golf boss' 'awkward' Cam Smith confession

1 year ago 88

PGA Tour brag Jay Monahan has conceded the lack of defending champion Cameron Smith from this week's Players Championship is "awkward".

The Australian has been banned by the PGA Tour aft signing with Greg Norman's LIV Golf for a reported $140 cardinal sign-on fee.

It means the satellite No.5 will beryllium absent from the PGA Tour's flagship event, on with different high-profile names specified arsenic caller large champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

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Their lack makes a mockery of the PGA Tour's claims astir the spot of this week's field.

"Listen, Cam Smith had a large show successful 2022," Monahan said.

"He was a deserved champion. I deliberation arsenic I look to this week and I look astatine the tract that we person present and the spot from apical to bottom, I deliberation erstwhile we permission present connected Sunday nighttime we're going to crown different deserving champion.

"To reply your question directly, yes, it's awkward. But you know, yet that's a determination helium made, and we've got an unbelievable tract present this week and a past and contented that 1 of these 144 is going to spell question to get."

World No.3 Rory McIlroy was different to admit that the Players Championship was diminished by Smith's ban.

"Would it beryllium amended if the defending champion was present this week? Absolutely," McIlroy confessed.

"He made a determination that helium felt was the champion happening for him, and helium knew that determination was going to travel with consequences. One of the consequences is close present not being capable to play connected the PGA Tour."

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