'I don't think we get the respect that maybe we deserve' — LIV’s Cameron Smith unhappy despite world ranking points recognition
Captain Cameron Smith of Ripper GC speaks at a press conference during the practice round before the start of the LIV Golf Adelaide at Grange Golf Club on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by NL/LIV Golf)
LIV Golf’s Cameron Smith welcomes the awarding of official world ranking points but still doesn’t believe the Saudi-backed tour gets “the respect of the golfing world that maybe we deserve.”
The 2022 Open champion hopes to lead Ripper GC to a successful team title defence in Adelaide from today (Wednesday) after new teammate Elvis Smylie scorched to victory worth $4m on his debut in Riyadh.
“Yeah, I think it's a work in progress, probably still, but it is nice to have that behind us,” Smith said of the OWGR’s decision to award points to LIV Golf.
“That’s been a long time coming, so it's nice to get the recognition. It's so hard out here. I don't think we get the respect of the golfing world that maybe we respect [sic] sometimes because of what it is and how we play.
“I think it's a work in progress, but it's a step in the right direction, nonetheless. It was good for Elvis last week. He loves it.”
While the OWGR only awards points to LIV Golf’s top 10 finishers each week due to concerns about the league’s format, Smylie leapt from 133rd to 77th in the world for his win.
Runner-up Jon Rahm jumped from 97th to 67th and while he welcomed the awarding of points as “fantastic”, he feels limiting points to the top-10 is “unfair”.
“I don't like how we're not being treated the same as every other tour,” Rahm said. It seems like the rules that have been in place don't really apply to us, with only 10 of us getting points.
"It doesn't seem fair. The small fields out there throughout the course of the year, their players get full points."
England’s Eddie Pepperell, who missed the cut in the Qatar Masters, where winner Patrick Reed got fewer points for winning than Smylie got in Riyadh, criticised Rahm’s stance on “The Chipping Forecast” podcast.
“Well, obviously, I think the OWGR statement there is entirely fair, and I don't really understand the complaints on the other side,” Pepperell said. "I mean, I think I read somewhere Jon Rahm talked about this and said, ‘What’s the difference between the tours?’
"And I thought, well, if you can't see the difference, then you've really got an issue, and Jon is not a stupid guy, he's quite smart, so yeah, these guys are blinded really by their position on LIV.”
Moving up the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will be a goal for Lauren Walsh this year as she prepares for her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Ludo de Jong, General Manager Anantara The Marker Dublin, Lauren Walsh at the Irish Golf Writers Association Awards in Anantara The Marker, Dublin, Ireland. 16/12/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie
The Castlewarden star (25) begins her season alongside Anna Foster in the Ladies European Tour’s $5m PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh today (Wednesday) as she counts down to her LPGA debut in China next month.
Walsh finished a brilliant tenth in the Order of Merit last year to make it to Final Qualifying for the LPGA Tour and went on to win her US card with a clutch final round.
Now she’s hoping to build on the experience she gained in her first two years in Europe on the game’s strongest tour.
“I learned so much from my first year on the LET,” Walsh said at December’s Anantara Dublin-sponsored Irish Golf Writers’ Association Awards.
“I learned how to travel the world and play a full-time schedule, playing practice rounds and competing in tournaments.
“Learning is endless. But I took all this experience into this year, tweaked one or two things I needed to, and it was a huge confidence boost for my team and me to see the results keep growing and getting better.
“I think that's a great sign for next year as well.”
Walsh faces tough competition for her maiden LPGA win at the season-opening event at Riyadh Golf Club,
where world number five Charley Hull is the top-ranked player in the field.
