Cam Smith is about to enterprise outdoors the LIV bubble extra usually subsequent 12 months in a concerted bid to get to a second Olympics in Paris.
He is aware of his common taking part in schedule will solely maintain him again after LIV’s request for world rating factors was rebuffed.
Since his big-money defection to the Saudi-backed league final 12 months, the rating of former world No.2 Smith has dropped to 18.
He has performed simply six occasions this 12 months which are eligible for world rating factors for 2 top-10 main finishes and a second on the current Hong Kong Open.
As of final week, Queensland star Smith, who partnered nice mate Marc Leishman on the Tokyo Video games, was nonetheless nicely positioned to qualify for Paris with an Olympic rating of twelfth.
Nonetheless, his rating is projected to push him outdoors qualification by early subsequent 12 months so Smith will contemplate taking part in further occasions on the LIV-friendly Asian Tour to earn essential factors.
“I believe I’d however that’s sort of wait and see,” he mentioned on Tuesday earlier than his Australian PGA title defence this week at Royal Queensland.
Smith may earn world rating factors this week and on the following week’s Australian Open as a result of each occasions are co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and Europe’s DP World Tour.
“Hopefully, these couple of occasions down right here can do a lot for me and people few majors earlier than it may well elevate it (his rating) up as nicely,” the 2022 British Open champion mentioned.
“Hopefully, I can hold that rating up and put on the coat of arms on the chest once more. It’s fairly particular.”
Smith described his expertise on the Covid-restricted Tokyo Video games alongside Leishman as “bizarre”.
“‘Leish’ and I wished to get out and watch some track-and-field stuff and I simply wasn’t in a position to do it,” he mentioned.
“Hopefully, we’re near the motion and we are able to go as spectators. That may be superior.”
Leishman, who conceded he was no probability to play in Paris now that his rating had dropped to 422, mentioned Smith deserved to play at a second successive Olympics.
“Cam is a reasonably clear-cut greatest Australian golfer and I believe he deserves to be taking part in within the Olympics, so hopefully they will do one thing so he can get in,” Leishman mentioned.
Smith remained hopeful {that a} peace deal might be brokered between the rival excursions.
The PGA Tour and LIV backers the Saudi Public Funding Fund are but to succeed in settlement on a proposed new association that would form the way forward for golf.
“The gamers generally are very all collectively,’’ Smith mentioned. “I don’t suppose there are any laborious emotions.
“We get 4 probabilities (on the majors) to meet up with one another.”
To organize for his Australian PGA and Open campaigns, Smith performed this month within the Hong Kong Open, the place he completed second at 18-under, a shot behind winner Ben Campbell.
“I had a few weeks off (earlier than Hong Kong) … so the sport really felt surprisingly good,” Smith mentioned.
“I used to be going there to get going once more for these things (in Australia).
“I managed to get in rivalry there and doubtless performed higher than the rating urged, particularly on the Saturday and Sunday.
“It was a little bit of a irritating weekend however the recreation feels good.”
Smith will tee off at 6.10am on Thursday on the tenth gap alongside Min Woo Lee and Ryder Cup hero Robert McIntyre.
Adam Scott will begin his opening spherical 10 minutes earlier, additionally from the tenth, in a bunch that features fellow Australian Cam Davis and Polish star Adrian Meronk.
Spherical 1 characteristic teams:
6am (tenth gap): Adrian Meronk, Cam Davis, Adam Scott
6.10am (tenth gap): Robert MacIntyre, Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee
11am (1st gap): Lucas Herbert, Daniel Hillier, David Micheluzzi
11.10am (1st gap): Marc Leishman, Jhonattan Vegas, Ryo Hisatsune