Open champion Cam Smith among latest PGA Tour players to join LIV Golf Series

World No 2, the highest-ranked golfer to sign up for the breakaway circuit, debuts this week in Boston

Australia's Cameron Smith celebrates with The Claret Jug after winning the 150th Open at the Old Course, St Andrews, on July 17, 2022. PA

Cameron Smith shakes hands with Cameron Young after their final round of the Open. AP

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on the 18th green.

Cameron Smith celebrates after putting on the 18th green. AP

Cameron Smith celebrates after making a birdie on the 18th during the final round. Reuters

Australia's Cameron Smith celebrates with his caddie after making a birdie on the 18th. Reuters

Cameron Smith holes a birdie putt on the 13th green. AP

Rory McIlroy celebrates his birdie on the 10th. PA

Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a putt on the 6th green. PA

Cameron Young of the United States lines up a putt on the 10th green. Getty

Norway's Viktor Hovland on the 9th. Reuters

Cameron Smith after his birdie on the 13th hole. AP

Cameron Smith celebrates his birdie on the 10th. PA

McIlroy during day four of The Open at the Old Course, St Andrews. PA

England's Tommy Fleetwood walks on the 18th. PA

Cameron Smith, of Australia, after putting on the 5th green. AP

Rory McIlroy tees off the 6th. PA

Australia's Cameron Smith celebrates his birdie on the 12th. PA

Rory McIlroy tees off the 3rd. PA

Viktor Hovland during day four. Getty

Open champion Cam Smith has been confirmed as LIV Golf’s latest high-profile signing, as six more players were announced for this week’s event in Boston.

The world No 2, long linked with a money-spinning move to the new series, becomes the highest-ranked player to leave the PGA Tour.

Smith, 29, won The Open at St Andrews in July – his first major victory – when his stellar Sunday pipped the likes of Rory McIlroy to the Claret Jug.

The Australian was on Tuesday confirmed for LIV Golf, alongside compatriot Marc Leishman, world No 19 Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Tringale, Harold Varner III and Anirban Lahiri.

All six players are expected to tee it up at The International Golf Club in Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday – the fourth of the eight International Series events. The 48-man field carries a prize fund of $25 million.

Henrik Stenson, who was stripped of the 2023 European Ryder Cup captaincy for joining LIV Golf, won last month’s tournament – his debut – at Trump National.

At present, players competing in the LIV series are banned from playing in PGA Tour events, although Europe’s DP World Tour has temporarily lifted suspensions on LIV Golf members.

Last week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan reiterated that the ban on his circuit would be upheld despite major changes to the game’s lead tour.

“They’ve joined the LIV Golf Series, and they’ve made that commitment,” Monahan said in Atlanta. “For most of them, they’ve made multi-year commitments.

“As I’ve been clear throughout, every player has a choice, and I respect their choice, but they’ve made it. We’ve made ours. We’re going to continue to focus on the things that we control and get stronger and stronger. I think they understand that.

“As it relates to any of the scenarios for LIV players and coming back, I’ll remind you that we’re in a lawsuit. They’ve sued us. I think talking about any hypotheticals at this point doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Smith and Niemann are automatic qualifiers for the International Team at this year’s Presidents Cup. However, they will have to vacate their places and will be suspended from the PGA Tour once they hit a ball in tournament play in Boston.