LIV stars still in dark as Smith chases $28m payday

Australian golf star Cameron Smith admits it's "hard not to think about" what next year's professional landscape in the sport looks like.

The world's top men's professionals remain largely in the dark about what the bombshell merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour means for them.

The news hit the sport like a freight train in June, after Tour commissioner Jay Monahan secretly did a deal with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and Yasir Al-Rumayyan to end their bitter legal stoush.

READ MORE: Big-money flop sums up Roosters 'rollercoaster'

READ MORE: Wallabies great sorry for X-rated Eddie rant

READ MORE: Piastri's subtle dig as monster deal announced

Some of the sport's biggest names – including then-reigning British Open champion Smith, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau – were lured to LIV with signing payments upwards of $140 million, while staunch PGA Tour loyalists like Irish great Rory McIlroy refused to be bought off.

McIlory felt "like a sacrificial lamb" when Tour boss Monahan then performed a stunning about-face and essentially partnered with the Saudis to bring the rival tours into bed together. The Irishman said he would never play an LIV event and would prefer to retire instead.

But that's potentially what PGA Tour players will be asked to do as early as next year. Another option is LIV will be killed off after only two seasons, and all players will return to the one tour to play a revamped schedule.

Monahan is supposed to make a decision by December 31 to give players, broadcasters and fans some clarity.

As one of LIV's biggest stars, Smith would like to know what the future looks like.

"Yeah, it's definitely in the back of the mind for sure," Smith said this week from Chicago.

"It's hard not to really think about."

Smith hasn't played a tournament in five weeks, since winning the LIV New Jersey event.

That was one of three victories for the Aussie this year, who sits atop the individual LIV standings on 170 points but with six rivals able to catch him before the season ends.

He heads to Chicago this week hoping to extend his lead and potentially shore up the $28 million season winner's cheque.

"I kind of wish this tournament had come a little sooner," Smith said.

"Five weeks off, it's hard to say the momentum is really still there."

Smith will return home to Australia to play the PGA Championship and Open in November.