LIV Golf defections deliver blow to Presidents Cup

The upstart Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series pulling talent from the PGA Tour has diminished next week's Presidents Cup, shattering an Internationals roster once considered a threat to the United States.

Instead, the global squad will field eight rookies against an American lineup with 12 of the world's 26 top-ranked players when the biennial team matches begin Thursday at Quail Hollow.

Former world number two Cam Smith of Australia, the British Open winner, was chief among those defecting to the controversial new tour, which offers record $25 million purses but draws criticism due to the Saudis' human rights record.

Chile's Joaquin Niemann, Mexico's Abraham Ancer, South African Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Aussies Marc Leishman and Matt Jones and India's Anirban Lahiri were also among those banned by the PGA for the Cup after leaving for LIV Golf.

"Is it disappointing? I'm not going to lie to you, absolutely it's disappointing," Internationals captain Trevor Immelman said.

"Everybody knows we've had our butts kicked, but that doesn't mean we'll come with any less passion and compete to try and win."

The Americans lead the all-time rivalry 11-1-1 and have never lost at home, but a peak Internationals roster was considered a contender after falling only 16-14 in 2019 at Melbourne in the most recent Cup.

"It's sad to see it, but I'm going to be supporting the International team," Niemann said. "I've got a lot of friends there. Hopefully they beat the Americans."

"Definitely going to miss it," Lahiri said. "It's something I care about deeply and it's unfortunate how things are, but I wish them the best."

Leishman even questioned if it was a "true" Internationals squad without the lost talent.

"Certainly disappointing on a few