As Billy Horschel approached the 18th green in Sunday's final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, he couldn't help but wonder whether it was the last time he'd play with his good friend, Cameron Smith, on the PGA Tour.

Horschel and Smith both live in Ponte Vedra, Florida. They play golf together and go offshore fishing during their free time.


"If he happens to go, he would be the biggest loss in my mind because you look at his age and what he's accomplished," Horschel said. "Look at the person he is. He's a great kid and represents himself very well, and he does it the right way. If he happens to go, it would be the biggest loss because I'm biased. He's one of my best friends."

Smith, 29, is leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, the new circuit announced Tuesday. Smith is No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking and won the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. Chile's Joaquin Niemann (the 19th-ranked player in the world), Harold Varner III (No. 46), Cameron Tringale (No. 55), Australia's Marc Leishman (No. 62) and India's Anirban Lahiri (No. 92) are also joining LIV Golf, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.