LIV Golf star Cameron Smith is said to be “doing everything he can” to snap up fellow Australian Lucas Herbert onto Ripper GC in 2024.
Cameron Smith is understood to be “doing everything he can” to snap up the services of fellow Australian Lucas Herbert onto his Ripper GC ahead of the start of the 2024 LIV Golf League season next month.
Smith, 30, officially confirmed the signature of the third member in his four-man team in compatriot Matt Jones earlier today.
Jones, 43, is returning for his third season on Ripper GC having been out of contract.
Ripper GC also comprises 40-year-old Aussie Marc Leishman, who has always been alongside his good pal Smith since joining the breakaway circuit.
A source close to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League claims that the captain of Ripper GC and 150th Open winner is trying his hardest to add one more Australian to his squad before the season opens in Mexico from February 2–4.
As far as we know, Smith was attempting to convince fellow major winners Jason Day and Adam Scott to play at Ripper GC; however, both athletes have affirmed that they will be playing on the PGA Tour this year.
Smith is now turning his attentions to one-time PGA Tour champion and three-time DP World Tour winner Lucas Herbert, 28.
Herbert won the 2020 Dubai Desert Classic, 2021 Irish Open and 2023 ISPS Handa Championship in Japan on the DP World Tour. He also captured his sole PGA Tour title at the 2021 Bermuda Championship.
“Herbert is the top name on Smith’s list after being unsuccessful in trying to track down Day and Scott,” a source tells GolfMagic.
“Cam is fully set on a full-strength Ripper team that will wave the Aussie flag proud on LIV Golf in 2024.
“He is doing everything he can to try and persuade Herbert to come and join his side.”
There is no greater incentive for that, especially with Australia’s LIV Golf Adelaide once again set to play out as the most popular event on the schedule in 2024.
Adelaide’s record-breaking LIV tournament was named the World’s Best Golf Event of the Year 2023 at the World Golf Awards.
LIV Golf Adelaide saw 77,076 spectators attend The Grange GC in 2023.
Much of its popularity was down to the atmosphere and its Party Hole.
Chase Koepka got a hole-in-one, which brought the house down (watch below).
The 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide will once again take place at The Grange GC from 26-28 April, which is two weeks after The Masters.
Herbert’s name has been heavily linked with a move to LIV Golf over the past 12 months.
Twitter is also ablaze with rumour of Herbert moving from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.
According to Flushing It, Herbert is “likely” to be named the final member of Ripper GC.
Herbert recently revealed the mental health struggles that led to a near two-month hiatus from professional golf last year.
There are only a handful of spots remaining on LIV Golf in 2024.
Legion XIII will be the official name of Jon Rahm’s team. Kieran Vincent, who won one of three spots on LIV Golf through their Promotions event last month, is anticipated to be his first recruit.
With just three weeks until the 2024 LIV Golf season at Mayakoba begins, we probably won’t have wait long for an update. The final two spots on Rahm’s team are unknown.
Kalle Samooja was leaked as Martin Kaymer’s latest signing on Cleeks GC.
Will Herbert join Smith’s Ripper GC? Which players will join Rahm’s Legion XIII?
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