LIV Golf Veteran Calls for Reevaluation of Olympic Qualifying Criteria In Light of Cameron Smith’s Situation. Renowned LIV Golf figure Marc Lieshman has advocated for a review of the qualification process for the Olympic Games, highlighting the precarious position of former Open champion Cam Smith and the potential consequences of his exclusion. During the previous edition of the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, both Lieshman and Smith represented Australia. However, there is now a possibility of a change in Australia’s golf representation at the upcoming Olympics due to LIV Golf’s lack of recognition by the Official World Golf Rankings. Currently, the top two-ranked players from each country secure berths in the upcoming Olympic event, which is set to take place at Le Golf National in Paris next summer. Notably, Smith’s transition to LIV Golf last August has put his chances of representing his nation at risk due to the absence of world ranking points in LIV Golf events. Along with several other dissenting players, Smith has experienced a decline in the ranking ladder since joining the breakaway league. Despite being the second-best player globally when he joined the LIV setup, Smith’s ranking has slipped to 20th after participating in only seven OWGR-sanctioned events, including the four majors in 2023. Anticipating a further decline, Lieshman, Smith’s LIV teammate, has called for a reassessment of the criteria to facilitate Smith’s inclusion in the Olympic lineup. He expressed his concern, stating, “It is a very challenging situation for me [Leishman]. I do not anticipate being part of it [the Olympics], but I hope measures can be taken so that Cam [Smith] can participate. Hopefully, the selection process will not be solely based on world rankings, as I believe Cam is currently the undisputed top Australian golfer and deserves a place in the Olympics.” Following their return to the DP World Tour after competing in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane, Smith and Leishman had an opportunity to earn crucial ranking points. However, much to the surprise of many, Smith, the favourite for the tournament, failed to capitalize on this chance. The defending champion missed the cut at Royal Queensland by a significant seven strokes, registering a nine-over-par score across the initial 36 holes. His disheartened response reflected his dissatisfaction, as Smith emotionally commented, “Australia has been very supportive of me, and there’s no excuse for such a performance. Unacceptable. Yeah, no words. It’s quite upsetting actually.” In contrast, Leishman had a significantly more successful week, finishing third after the final round on Sunday. The Australian trailed the eventual champion Min Woo Lee by four shots, with Lee’s exceptional performance in Brisbane elevating him to 38th place in the world rankings. It is possible that Lee may replace Smith and Leishman in the Australian Olympic lineup, given his recent accomplishments and standing as one of the most promising prospects on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Currently, Smith holds the highest rank among Australian golfers, seated at 20th globally, while Jason Day closely follows in 21st place. Additionally, Lee stands at 38th, with Cam Davies and Adam Scott finding themselves within the top 50, securing the 43rd and 47th positions, respectively.