Greenbrier Preview: Rippers target a third team victory this year, and top-3 seeding for Texas
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Fresh from a runner-up spot in their most recent league start, the Rippers are oozing confidence as they prepare for this week's LIV Golf Greenbrier on The Old White course.
The all-Australian combination are currently third in the season-long standings and are one of just four teams - along with the Crushers, Legion XIII and Torque - with a chance at securing the No. 1 overall seed.
There are just two more events to be played in the regular season and the top three teams will earn a first-round bye for the concluding Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Texas from September 20-22.
Although Ripper GC made a slow start to the year, the team caught fire with a third-place finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong in early March before going on to win back-to-back titles in Adelaide and Singapore.
"I knew all year that we were going to get the ball rolling at some point," said captain Cameron Smith. "I think internally that we're the best team out here, and we're going to be tough to beat when we all have our best stuff. I'm very proud of my team. I knew that we had it in us, and it was just a matter of time.
"We just keep pushing each other. I think Herby (Lucas Herbert) has been a great addition, obviously. He's got that young blood in him, and he wants everyone to do well, and he keeps pushing the old boys. It's a really good mix of golfers. We've got a really good mix of personalities, and we just gel so well."
Just over two weeks ago, the Rippers clinched their fourth podium finish of the year with a runner-up spot at LIV Golf UK. Their aggregate score of 10-under in the final round was the best of the day by five strokes at JCB Golf & Country Club - a very impressive result following the withdrawal of Marc Leishman before the second round due to appendicitis which required surgery.
Smith birdied three of his last six holes to secure a runner-up spot on the individual leaderboard with a closing 69, while Herbert and Matt Jones both returned 4-under 67s. Reserve player Wade Ormsby, who filled in for Leishman after the opening round, shot consecutive rounds of 71 over the weekend.
"We were missing Leish, and having Wade in ... not to say Wade isn't a good player, but I think we could have been really close to getting a 'W' this week," Smith said after earning his third second-place finish this season. "It was a really good effort by Wade, and he'll be thanked."
Smith, who has been one of the best players in LIV Golf this year without yet winning an individual title, will be hoping that the Rippers can improve vastly on their showing last year at LIV Golf Greenbrier.
Twelve months ago, they arrived at The Old White course fresh from second place at LIV Golf London but they ended that week in a disappointing 11th spot in the team standings. Smith, who had clinched his second LIV Golf individual title in London, had to settle for 35th place on the individual leaderboard - ending a run of six consecutive top-12 LIV finishes.
"That week wasn't my best week, but it's a golf course that I've never really played that great on, so I didn't like it that much," said the Rippers captain.
Smith will be hoping that this week at The Old White plays out very differently. Overall, he is in a very good spot. He occupies sixth place in the season-long individual standings and he heads the league's putting charts while ranking fourth in birdies and 12th in scrambling.