Erased from the Records
Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson have all made significant impacts on golf over the past couple of decades. In 2022, Australian golfer Cameron Smith reached new heights, triumphing at both The Players Championship and the British Open. However, shortly after his victories, Smith made headlines by leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf. While this move has been financially rewarding for him, it appears to have come at the cost of his recognition within the PGA Tour’s historical records.
According to the official PGA Tour website, a comprehensive list of all-time prize money earners should place Smith at 49th. Mickelson and Johnson are ranked third and fourth, respectively, on this prestigious chart. Surprisingly, the PGA Tour has decided to exclude Smith and others from its records, suggesting that they have never participated in its events. Notably, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, both of whom rank among the top 20 money earners in PGA history, are also absent from this list.
Despite this erasure, the PGA Tour continues to maintain its record of the top 20 all-time money earners, which includes individuals officially removed from the standings.