McIlroy making every effort to let rumoured LIV-bound Cam Smith know the score

'I had a conversation with Cameron Smith two days after the Open,' McIlroy said of the Aussie who chased him down and beat him to the claret jug at St. Andrews. 

BATTLE: Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, right, and Cameron Smith, of Australia, left. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Rory McIlroy and Cameron Smith – the most prominent protagonists down the stretch at the Old Course in the 150th Open Championship – will play together in the opening round of the Tour Championship at East Lake.

The subplot goes much deeper than the Numbers 2 and 4 players in the world trying to chase down No. 1 Scottie Scheffler from six shots behind. McIlroy has been firmly in the PGA Tour’s camp since the first rumblings of the LIV Golf Series began last year, and Smith is rumored to have already signed himself over to the Saudi-backed venture for a reported $100 million.