Despite a $4 Million Hike in His Bank Account, Disappointment Meets Cameron Smith, Thanks to a PGA Tour Loyalist

Cameron Smith had a $4 Million reason to beam with joy after his triumph in New Jersey on Sunday. He earned himself a well-deserved victory by an impressive seven-shot margin. This momentous win marked his second triumph of the season, solidifying his status as an Aussie golfing superstar. However, fate had a different plan in store for him as he received a bitter blow immediately following his triumph. 

As the curtains closed on the LIV Golf Bedminster event, Smith should have been reveling in his well-earned victory. Sadly, his celebration was cut short as he missed out on his rankings due to a PGA Tour loyalist.

Cameron Smith goes down a spot in the OWGR Rankings

Smith, who currently holds the 9th position in the OWGR rankings, experienced a slight setback this week as he slipped down one spot. Previously, he held the 8th rank with commendable consistency up until last week.

However, being a part of the LIV league presents a considerable challenge for Smith, as his participation in LIV events does not contribute points toward his OWGR ranking. Since only his 2022 event points are counted in the OWGR ranking, it becomes tough for the 2022 Open Championship winner to reach the spot he truly deserves.

In contrast, Brian Harman, the Open Championship winner, rose to the tenth place in the standings after winning the last men’s major. He was formerly ranked 26th in the OWGR. And now, with the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he has risen from 10th to 8th in the rankings.

The 36-year-old golfer gained 2.32740 points in the OWGR rankings after finishing T31 at the previous week’s event. This provided him a quick boost, propelling him to eighth place this week. Given that before the season ends he has got a chance to play a little more, there is a possibility he can even get a better position.

Read More: ‘World Class Out Here’: After His $4,000,000 Triumph, Cameron Smith Earns Appreciation From Fellow LIV Defector

However, whether Smith will get a chance to get a jump, remains uncertain due to the OWGR’s decision of excluding LIV golfers from the rankings.

A look into OWGR rules for LIV golfers

Since professional golfers entered the LIV league, they are subject to specific limitations. One of these is to not count the LIV event points, which ultimately causes them to drop in the OWGR rankings. Due to this, a lot of elite golfers had to deal with similar issues as Smith and saw a significant decline in their rankings. Phil Mickelson currently stands at 94 after joining LIV Golf last year, Bryson DeChambeau holds the 113th position, wheras Brooks Koepka stands at the 13th position despite his stellar performances this year.

Whereas PGA tour loyalists such as Brian Harman enjoy getting points and other benefits.

Indeed, Smith got heartbreaking news right after his win. What do you think about the drop in his ranking? Let us know in the comments below.

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