Australian golfer Travis Smyth admits he doesn’t know what to expect at next week’s LIV Virginia event where he will fine tune his preparations for the upcoming US PGA Championship.
Smyth, 31, will compete in a major for just the second time when he tees off at Pennsylvania’s Aronimink Golf Club for the May 14-17 PGA.
The PGA Tour of Australasia order-of-merit winner will prepare for the event at LIV Virginia, where he is currently a reserve for the tournament.
However, with LIV’s future beyond this year uncertain after confirmation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was pulling its funding of the tour at the end of this season, Smyth is unsure what the mood will be like among the players.
“I don’t know what to expect, to be honest,” said Smyth, who played at LIV’s Mexico City event two weeks ago just after news broke that PIF was likely to withdraw its funding.
“When that news first came out in Mexico, there wasn’t a single person that I spoke to, and I spoke to a lot of people … (who) saw it coming.
“Now, going into next week, there has been a lot in the media over the last few days, there has been a lot of bold sort of accusations or statements (that) guys are leaving and the league is folding.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of talk. I did see an email come through that there’ll be a meeting with (LIV chief executive) Scott O’Neil on Tuesday, so I’ll probably get some good insight then as to what’s happening.
“As far as I’m concerned, the tournament’s going ahead and … I’m hoping (LIV) is still around, because I’m just an outsider trying to get on.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me, so I’m really hoping it stays around.”
Smyth has status on a host of tours, including next year’s DP World Tour, but his preference is set to secure full-time LIV status in 2027 if LIV doesn’t fold.
“I’ve got amazing tournaments to play in, no matter what. I’m exempt (from several tours) for the next two or three years,” he said.
“I’m in a great position. I’d love for LIV to be around. I’m optimistic that it will still be around next year, and I’m hoping that my ‘plan A’, which would be to play on the LIV Tour next year, is still a possibility.”
Even though Smyth is no certainty to play at LIV Virginia due to his reserve status, he said practicing in a tournament environment would be a good way to prepare for the following week’s US PGA.
“It’s kind of worked out great … because I was going to go over and just practice in Chicago, which is a familiar place to me,” he said.
“Then when they asked me to be a reserve, I was like ‘this is even better’ because I think at least if I am just practicing at the LIV event, at least it’s in a competitive environment.
“There’s going to be quite a lot of purpose to the practice, and if I do get the call-up to play, I’ll hopefully be ready.”
Originally published as Australian golfer Travis Smyth hopes LIV survives amid funding uncertainty
