Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith reportedly heading to LIV Golf

Cameron Smith, the second-ranked golfer in the world, will be the latest big-name player to join LIV Golf, according to a report on Tuesday.

Smith, an Australian who captured the Open Championship last month, reportedly will join the Greg Norman-led upstart series via a $100 million agreement following the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin Thursday. The FedEx Cup offers $75 million in total bonus money spread among 150 players.

Speaking to the media Tuesday prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Smith offered a no comment on the report.

“My goal here is to win the FedEx Cup playoffs,” he said. “That’s all I’m here for.”

Fellow Australian Marc Leishman, a six-time PGA Tour winner with whom Smith shares an agent, is also reportedly headed to LIV, which is off until its Massachusetts event Sept. 2-4 at The International in Bolton.

After Smith’s remarkable win at St. Andrews, one of the more awkward moments was when he was asked about rumors he would be joining LIV Golf.

“I just won the British Open, and you’re asking about that. I think that’s pretty ... not that good,” Smith said.

Is Smith on the move to LIV Golf?Ross Kinnaird/Getty

A month later, nothing has changed.

Aussie golfer Cameron Percy said on an Australian radio station that Smith was defecting, only to say later to Australian Golf Digest that he was only conveying what he heard in locker rooms during rain delays on tour.

But then The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday that Smith has signed a deal worth more than $100 million to join the Saudi-funded league, and that he plans to start the first week in September in the Bolton event.

“If there’s something I need to say regarding the PGA Tour or LIV, it will come from Cameron Smith, not Cameron Percy,’' Smith said. “I’m a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it’ll be said by me.”

He later was asked about the Boston event, which would preclude Smith from playing in the Presidents Cup in late September. He didn’t touch that one, either.

“Like I said, I’m here to play the FedEx Cup playoffs, mate,” he said. “That’s my priority.”

Smith has a mathematical chance to reach No. 1 this week. LIV Golf still only has one player from the top 20 in the world.