“Everything’s staying the same” - Cam Smith shoots down teammate’s LIV Golf transfer rumor

Cam Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC team won their first LIV Golf team title in Dallas in September. The squad has been in crossroads about its roster ever since. Matt Jones, who finished 42nd on the tournament’s 57-player field, was rumored to be on his way out.

Jones, who joined LIV Golf in 2022, ran out of contract this year and was rumored to be replaced. However, his team skipper Smith has now come out to rubbish the rumors. Dismissing the speculations, the ace golfer stated that his side, comprising of Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Jones, will remain unchanged for the new 2025 season. He stated that “everything’s staying the same.”

According to Smith, 44-year-old Jones is part of the team’s future for now.

Speaking to bunkered.co.uk after his opening round 67 at the Asian Tour’s season-ending PIF Saudi International in Riyadh, Cam Smith said:

“Everything’s staying the same. It’s hard to change a team up when you’ve just when the team title. To be fair we played really solid all year. We could have played a few more events throughout the year, but that’s stuff we can work on. There’s no reason to change it.”

It is pertinent to note that the rumor frenzy around Smith’s Aussie team peaked when Adam Scott’s name was taken. According to various unofficial sources, the veteran Aussie star and PGA Tour Policy Board member was being considered as a dream potential signing ahead of the 2025 season. Interestingly, Smith didn’t fully dismiss Scott’s name.

Addressing the rumors around Scott, Smith said:

“I think anytime you get someone of that caliber coming to play your massive events, but we’ll wait and see.”

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Smith doesn't write off Adam Scott's potential move to LIV Golf

Notably, Smith stated that the decision to keep Jones in the roster was not taken due to lack of options. The player backed LIV insiders who earlier claimed that the Saudi-backed series was anticipating new recruits for 2025.

Replying to a query on possible new entries to LIV Golf, Smith added:

“I think so. It’s something I don’t have to worry about now we do have a GM. He gets a lot more than I do. For us, the young Australians are really keen to be involved – being here on the Asian Tour and the International Series. That’s really good.”

Matt Jones at LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship (Source: Imagn)

It is also noteworthy that Jones is currently the longest-tenured player on Ripper GC. The two-time PGA Tour champion was briefly a free agent after finishing 37th in points in the 2023 individual standings, placing him in the Open Zone. He went on to re-sign for the all-Aussie squad for a third season back in January.

Following this, Jones said, as quoted by livgolf.com:

“Cam’s always been good to me. He always said during the year, Matt, we’ll work on this for next year. So I’ve always kind of known I’d return.”

Jones was originally part of Punch GC LIV Golf side and played all events during the inaugural 2022 season before Smith and Leishman joined in. The Aussie side was later rebranded as Ripper GC.