Cameron Smith (Australia) will participate in the PIF Saudi International (total prize money of 5 million dollars), the opening game of the 2023 Asian Tour.
In a press release on the 5th (Korean time), Smith said, “I decided to participate in the opening game of the Asian Tour held at Royal Greens Golf & CC in Saudi Arabia for four days from February 2nd.” I am excited to compete with.”
With Smith’s participation, a confrontation with Korean players playing in the Asian Tour, such as Bio Kim, Do-yeop Moon, and Lee Geun Jang, is expected to take place. Before the opening, 30 top Asian Tour players, including Kim Si-hwan, a Korean-American who became the Asian Tour prize winner last year, will be on the scene. Also, Harold Varner III (USA), who won last year with a long-distance eagle putt over 20m, will defend the title.
There are two reasons why LIV golfers, including Smith and Harold Varner III, are taking part in the opening game of the Asian Tour. The first goal is to acquire world ranking points. This is because there are no world ranking points awarded in LIV golf. Smith has the highest world ranking among LIV golf players, at number three.메이저사이트
And to prepare for the opening game of LIV Golf in the 2023 season to be held in Mayakoba, Mexico on February 24-26. Smith took a break for two months after participating in the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open last November. There is no choice but to lose the sense of the game, so there is an intention to recover it through the Asian Tour.
PIF Saudi International, co-sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Invest Fund and Japan’s Softbank, was held as a DP World Tour in the past and was won by Dustin Johnson (USA) and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland). All of them currently play for LIV Golf.