Why Australia’s original LIV rebel is sweating over his future

Matt Jones, the first Australian to jump ship to Greg Norman’s LIV Golf, says he is daunted by the prospect of losing his spot on the lucrative tour, with his future in the hands of Cameron Smith.

Two-time Australian Open winner Jones faces the prospect of being in the golfing wilderness if former world No.2 Smith does not retain him on his Ripper team next year.

Jones was declared a LIV free agent after finishing 37th on the individual standings on the 48-man roster in 2023.

The top 24 players all retained their spots for 2024, and those outside that ranking who had long-term contracts were also safe. But Jones’ contract ends at the end of this year, making his spot vulnerable.

While Smith has battled for form during the Australian summer of golf, he’s had another issue to contend with: who will join him and Marc Leishman on his franchise next year?

Jones, who wore his Ripper apparel during the opening round of the Australian Open on Thursday, said he had yet to be given a definitive answer from Smith about next year’s team line-up.

Matt Jones competing in the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday.Credit: Getty

But golf sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing said they expected Jones to be retained in Smith’s line-up.

Asked whether he expected to be on the team, Jones said: “I’m not sure. We’ll see what happens. I mean, hopefully. Who knows? It’s up to Cam.

“It is daunting. There’s nothing I can do about it. The only thing I can control is how I play. I didn’t play well enough to not have to worry about free agency this year. My golf was not to the level where I expect it to be, or want it to be. It was actually pretty poor. Hopefully, Cam has belief in my golf game and I can help them out this coming season.

“I had such a good time with Cam, Leish and Jed [Morgan]. They’re such good guys and to be able to hang out with them was amazing.”

Cameron Smith playing a shot from the bunker on the 18th hole at The Australian Golf Course on Friday.Credit: Getty

Smith’s other teammate, former Australian PGA champion Morgan, was automatically relegated after finishing in the bottom four on LIV’s roster.

He will play in a qualifying event in Abu Dhabi this week trying to return to the breakaway league, which pays players $180,000 just for teeing it up in an event.

While speculation swirls around the prospect of US Masters winner Jon Rahm joining LIV Golf, both Jones and Leishman said they would have no issues playing 72-hole events to fit the Official World Golf Rankings criteria.

LIV’s name was derived from the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played in each tournament.

“I’ll do whatever they tell me to do format wise,” Leishman said. “If that means playing 72 holes and that’s how we get world rankings points, I’m more than happy to do it – and I’m sure all the guys would be.”

Jones said: “I don’t think it would be a problem at all, especially since we play 15 events.

“But the only problem would be for those guys in all the majors, they’ve got a very condensed schedule now. It’s a lot of golf for them to go to Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, come to Australia. It’s easy for me to say yes, and Leish to say yes, but for Brooks [Koepka] and Cam and those guys, it’s a lot.”

Jones (282) and Leishman (306) have plunged down the world rankings due to LIV’s application for official status being rejected. Smith (23) is almost certain to lose an Olympics spot unless he wins a major next year and has now been replaced by Jason Day as Australia’d top ranked golfer.

Jones’ bid for a historic third national championship at his home course suffered a bizarre start when he was penalised two shots on his opening hole on Thursday for taking a preferred lie on an area in which it wasn’t allowed.

He still carded a two-under 70 in his opening round at The Australian and eventually finished the week tied-33rd..

“I just picked up the ball and moved it,” Jones said. “I thought it was on the fairway and there was no definition back there really, from fairway to first cut.

“When I saw it, I called Adam [Scott] and said, ‘I think I moved my ball illegally’. We knew it was two shots from that time.”

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