Lucas Herbert joins Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC team for opening LIV event
The silence has been deafening from LIV Golf around its final 2024 line-up just days out from the season opening event in Mexico, but one huge Australian move has been confirmed.
Victorian Lucas Herbert has posed for pictures decked out in “Ripper GC” team gear with captain and fellow Australian Cameron Smith, who lured the 28-year-old to the Saudi-backed league.
The pictures come with as yet no confirmation from LIV or Ripper GC of not only Herbert’s signing but also the line-up for $400m signing Jon Rahm’s team, which is expected to be called Legion XIII.
Lucas Herbert (right) in Ripper GC gear in Mexico.
Englishman, and Ryder Cup star, Tyrell Hatton has been reported as a signing for Rahm for as much as $63m as well as 2023 Australian Open winner Adrian Meronk from Poland.
Contacted directly for confirmation of the new names joining the tour, a LIV spokesperson said “while we don’t comment on player speculation, stay tuned as new roster announcements are forthcoming”.
With the Mayakoba event beginning on Friday, those announcements haven’t yet come.
Herbert’s management also didn’t reply to questions about his move, which comes after a massive rankings drop this week from 68 to 82, a slide that will continue with pace now he can’t earn world rankings points.
Smith, who was No.2 in the world after his British Open win in 2022, also dropped to 32 on the rankings, and he’s now in real danger of being jumped by Min Woo Lee and missing out on selection for the Paris Olympics.
A place for Smith could be determined by Jason Day, who is the top-ranked Australian at 21, choosing not to go to the Games.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM