BY TOM CAREY

Controversial LIV Golf caused chaos in professional golf this year, but it has also benefitted Australian golfers. 

LIV is a new golf tournament bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund that will compete with the well-established Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) Tour.

LIV are the Roman numerals for 54 - the number of holes to be played during the exhibition match.

The 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith from Australia officially joined LIV Golf in the past week.

The Telegraph reported Smith was offered A$140 million to join. 

Lower-ranked Australian male professional golfers have also signed up for the competition. 

Scratch golfer Angus Yeates, who considered becoming a professional, says joining LIV could benefit a young player's career.

“It creates a great opportunity for players, especially younger up-and-coming players with more money and easier ways to create a living, because it can be quite challenging for people that are fighting once they turn pro,” he said.

The PGA and European Tours were previously the primary way players earned substantial money from golf. 

“LIV will offer these players a three-competition agreement, and they’ll get a certain payout,” Mr Yeates said.

World number two Cameron Smith, and fellow Australian Marc Leishman, are two of LIV’s latest signings for its upcoming event in Bolton, United States, which started on September 2.

Smith and Leishman joined Australian golf great, and CEO of LIV, Greg Norman and other Australians who compete, such as Matt Jones and Jediah Morgan.

Any player who competes at a LIV event is banned from the PGA Tour. 

2022 Players Championship champion Cameron Smith now cannot compete on the PGA Tour.

This includes the Presidents Cup, which starts on September 20.

LIV has been scrutinised in two ways. There are no world ranking points in its 54-hole no-cut exhibition golf, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund funds LIV.

Commonwealth Golf Club member and golf fan Josh Brooks said there can be benefits from LIV Golf.

“I think it’s great to see competition [between golf tours],”  Mr Brooks said.

“It’s never great for the sport as a whole to be run as a monopoly.”

Smith said money was one factor but not the main attraction for moving to LIV.

Speaking to Golf Digest, Smith said LIV's playing schedule appealed to him.

“I’ll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an [LIV] event down there.”

Players like Smith and Leishman play on the PGA and European Tours all year round.

Golf Digest Australia reported there could be a LIV event in Sydney in April 2023. 

Golf fan Josh Brooks said he would “definitely be keen to go and watch that live”.

Smith will also play the full Australian professional golf season with a more flexible schedule.