The upstart LIV Golf series scored a big victory over the rival PGA Tour on Tuesday with the addition of six players who are ranked among the top 100 in the World Golf Rankings.

Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, the 29-year-old Australian who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, officially announced his move to the Saudi-backed tour. He was joined by five others who plan to make their LIV Golf debuts on Friday at The International near Boston.

Smith, who is rumored to earn $100 million for the move, will be joined by five other first-timers on the tour, which is holding its fourth event of its inaugural season. Most notably is Joaquin Niemann, a 23-year-old Chilean who is ranked 19th in the world and won the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational in February.

The two young stars' desertion to LIV Golf is the latest blow to the PGA Tour, which has suspended other players to compete in the upstart series. Niemann reportedly was having second thoughts about playing in LIV Golf events, according to the Associated Press, but decided Monday to make the move.

Others joining LIV Golf at the International this weekend include Americans Harold Varner III (No. 46) and Cameron Tringale (No. 55), as well as Marc Leishman of Australia (No. 62) and Anirban Lahiri (No. 92) of India. There was no immediate word on the financial terms.

"LIV Golf is showing the world that our truly global league is attracting the world's best players and will grow the game into the future for the next generation," said Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf. "The best and the brightest continue to embrace (the series)."

Several of the top PGA Tour players have taken advantage of the huge pay days with smaller fields and fewer rounds of the LIV Golf format, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. The PGA Tour is attempting to stem the tide of desertions.