LIV star set for double tour return

A handful of LIV Golf stars have already confirmed tour returns this year.

Brooks Koepka recently announced that he will tee it up in Scotland later this month at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

It will be the five-time major champion’s first DP World Tour appearance since 2020, while a host of others are set for starts on the Wentworth-based circuit.

Adrian Meronk, Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed will tee it up in different events.

• Rory McIlroy’s “killer instinct” questioned by tour pro

• Local residents slam proposed Scottish golf resort

Now, we can add 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith to the list of LIV golfers on the move, while the Saudi-backed league takes a break.

Smith, 31, will contest both the Australian PGA Championship and the Queensland PGA Championship before the end of the year.

“Coming home to Queensland is a highlight of my year,” he said. “It’s always special to be back playing in front of my family, friends and all the golf fans and hopefully being up near the lead.

“Of course I’d love to win both, but it’s going to be difficult with the fields that will be at the two tournaments.

“I think playing at Nudgee will be good preparation for Royal Queensland and hopefully will have me at my best to attempt to take back the Joe Kirkwood Cup.”

The Ripper GC captain is a three-time winner of the Australian PGA Championship – one of two DP World Tour events Down Under.

• Charley Hull tips next Solheim Cup captain

• Jim Furyk hits back in furious Presidents Cup rant

After wins in 2017, 2018 and 2022, Smith could join Robert Allenby and Norman Von Nida as a four-time winner.

He’ll join the likes of Min Woo Lee and Jason Day at Royal Queensland Golf Club in his hometown.

Meanwhile, the Queensland PGA Championship is the fifth event on the 2024-25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and will take place at Nudgee Golf Club.

PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “We all love seeing Cam playing golf back in Australia and I’m sure he’ll be determined to put on a great show in front of his home crowd this year at both Royal Queensland and Nudgee.

“Cam really appeals to all ages of golf fans. He’s a big reason why so many youngsters are taking up the game and are in our galleries at Royal Queensland each year.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.