As Cam Smith?s Olympics Dream Faces a Daunting Challenge, Who Are the Top 5 Candidates That Can Overtake the LIV Golf Rebel?

Cameron Smith has been experiencing a great year in the Saudi-backed league owing to his amazing performances on the greens. However, that did not stop him from losing his footing at the ongoing Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, leading him to miss the weekend cut and take an early trip home.

What’s more, his performance at the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament has further created an obstacle for the golfer ahead of the Olympics set to be held in Paris in 2024. But this hurdle has come as a blessing of sorts for other professionals who aim to cement their place on the Olympic team.

Meet the top five golfers lined up to overtake Cameron Smith

1. Jason Day:?Topping the list of contenders is Day, who is currently in the No. 21 position on the world rankings. He boasts a total of six top-10 finishes, including a win at the AT&T Byron Nelson in 2023. Although he is not playing at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, the 13-time PGA Tour winner is a fan favorite to qualify.

2. Cameron Davis: Following Day is the 1x PGA Tour champ, who is currently at 44th on the OWGR. The 28-year-old has been nothing short of amazing this year, with a total of eight top-10 placements in 2023. His best finish came at the Fortinet Championship, the PGA Tour tournament part of the fall season, where he placed at T3 with a score of 17-under 271. Moreover, the young Aussie is currently at T6 after two rounds at the ongoing PGA Tour of Australasia event.

3. Min Woo Lee: Hot on the trail between the two is Lee, who is currently leading the scoreboard at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship. The 25-year-old is just a spot behind Davis at 45 on the world rankings and has seen himself emerge victorious at the Macao Open, an Asian Tour event. The 2X DP World Tour champ would be looking to make himself a part of history by finishing inside the top 60 and getting a chance to win the medal at the upcoming Olympics.

4. Adam Scott: At the fourth position behind Lee is Scott, at world No. 47. With a total of 31 professional wins, including 13 PGA Tour titles and a major victory, the Aussie would be looking to increase his rankings from the ongoing tournament, where he is currently in second place going into the weekend. Moreover, with a total of six top-10 finishes in 2023, the 43-year-old is, no doubt, a fan favorite to play at the Paris Games.

5. Lucas Herbert: Although the 27-year-old is currently in the 69th position on the OWGR, if Smith continues to lose and, as a result, goes down on the rankings, Herbert has a very good chance of making it into the Olympics. He has a single win in 2023, coming off the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan, where he scored a 15-under 265.

While other names do pop up for the much-desired tournament that happens once every four years, the situation of the LIV golfer does naturally pique one?s interest.

Smith and his Olympic dream

For a golfer to be automatically qualified for the Olympics, they should be placed in the top 15 on the Official World Golf Rankings. However, there would only be a total of four professionals selected per country. And Cameron Smith, currently at 18th, has a good chance of making it into the Australian team with Day (21) if everything goes well in the future.

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However, the current top Aussie pro failed to make a mark at the ongoing event. His loss, coupled with the OWGR not awarding LIV Golf points, has led him to face a scary situation in terms of qualifying. If his ranking continues to plummet, the rest of the top golfers who play on the PGA Tour have a very good chance of overtaking him.

Well, only time will tell if Smith can hold on to his place on the OWGR despite all the hurdles he faces.

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