Australian primary Cameron Smith hopes to earn sufficient rating factors on his dwelling tour and in subsequent yr’s majors to qualify for one more Olympics at Paris subsequent yr.
The previous world quantity two has slipped to 18th since becoming a member of the breakaway LIV Golf circuit the place gamers are unable to earn rating factors.
Solely the highest 60 are eligible to qualify for Paris, whereas Smith additionally faces competitors for spots on Australia’s workforce from compatriots together with main winners Jason Day and Adam Scott.
That has put the onus on Smith to mount a powerful protection of his Australian PGA Championship title this week on the Royal Queensland Golf Membership to shore up his rating.
“Yeah I positively wish to be there, 100%,” the 2022 Open Championship winner advised reporters of the Olympics on Tuesday.
“I do know the standards, do not know if that may change.”
Smith, who completed in a tie for tenth on the Tokyo Olympics, may even have the ability to earn factors on the Australian Open in Sydney subsequent week.
“I’ve acquired these couple of occasions and 4 extra appears to be like once more within the majors, so hopefully I can hold that rating up,” added Smith.
“To put on the coat of arms on the chest once more could be fairly particular.”
LIV’s bid to have its gamers earn rating factors was unanimously rejected final month by the Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) as a result of considerations concerning the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit’s format.
Whereas the 4 majors have allowed LIV gamers to compete, those that earned exemptions into them as a result of previous outcomes might in the future be omitted as they aren’t incomes rating factors.