LIV Golf Persuaded Smith and Marc to participate in Saudi sponsored series in exchange for a franchise.

LIV Golf persuaded Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith to participate in the Saudi-sponsored series in exchange for a franchise.

When they decided to switch from the PGA Tour to LIV, Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman received more than just a nice salary.

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According to Greg Norman, CEO of LIV, the Australian golfers earned a 25% ownership stake in the Punch GC brand this week.

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The winner of the 2022 Open Championship, Smith is the first top-10 golfer to sign on with the Saudi-sponsored golf league.

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Smith reportedly received more than $100 million from LIV as well.

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Including Smith and Leishman in the fold seems to be a key marketing strategy Norman is using to spread LIV around the globe.

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Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones, the other two members of Punch GC, are Australians as well,

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and LIV intends to hold a competition in their home nation two months following the 2023 Masters.

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According to reports, Gold Coast and Sydney are the front-runners, and Royal Sydney has previously rejected LIV.

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Players that join LIV are prohibited from competing in PGA Tour competitions, and it is quite uncertain whether they will be able to compete in the majors.

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