Four Australian golfers face uncertain futures after LIV Golf collapse
The shutdown of LIV Golf has left Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Elvis Smylie without a tour, prompting them to consider options such as re-qualifying for other tours or retirement.
The sudden collapse of LIV Golf on Friday has left four Australian players—Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Elvis Smylie—without a tour affiliation. The players, who joined the Saudi-backed league in recent years, now face a range of possibilities, from returning to qualifying schools for other tours to stepping away from professional competition.
Smith, who won the Open Championship in 2022 and reached No.2 in the world rankings before moving to LIV, is currently ranked 162nd globally and 21st in the LIV standings this year. He declined an invitation to rejoin the PGA Tour earlier this year and said, "It’s hard to make a decision when you don’t have at least some of the answers to make the right decision, or (any) decision. We need a few more answers," speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Leishman, 43, has fallen to 294th in the world rankings and is unlikely to secure a PGA or DP World Tour card for the upcoming season. He plans to compete in the Australian swing this month and hopes to capture a major trophy.
Herbert, 30, was the fourth-ranked LIV player in 2026 and won two individual titles before leaving the league weeks before its bankruptcy filing. He will play several Australian events before deciding his next tour affiliation. In an Instagram reel he said, "One of the things I’m passionate about is trying to help back home, back in Australia, whether it be junior sport, particularly junior golf, or you know mates in general, Australian foundations, Australian companies, that sort of thing."
Smylie, 24, won the 2024 Australian PGA Championship, then joined the DP World Tour for 2025 before moving to LIV, where he captured an individual title on debut and earned $5.7 million. He will return to Australia for upcoming tournaments but may need to go through qualifying school to regain a tour card.
All four players now must decide whether to seek status on existing tours, pursue alternative playing opportunities, or consider retirement, as the LIV Golf venture ends.