The Sports Newsroom PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler is adding his voice to the others who have expressed great concerns over how quickly members of LIV Golf can come back and play on their turf with no consequences. As the world’s number one, Scheffler acknowledges there should be a way for LIV Golfers to receive penalties on their departure.
The situation was discussed with the Golf Channel in the Phoenix Open, whereby Scheffler stressed a balanced and sober attitude towards the processes of adopting LIV players back into PGA Tour members. He also made reference to the different circumstances surrounding all these departures – in which not only players left, but they took legal actions against the PGA Tour, and it was a bitter pill for many.
🚨⛳️ #NEW: Scottie Scheffler joins those who say LIV golfers should NOT be welcomed back without consequences: “…I have no bad blood toward the guys that left. But a path toward coming back, it wouldn’t be a very popular decision, I think, if they just came back like nothing… pic.twitter.com/RWJIui4aBY
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 7, 2024
This position corresponds to that of other top players, such as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler, who have raised questions on whether a direct return is even possible for LIV Golf participants. On the other hand, they reason that any return there should be a contribution towards the PGA Tour and not a simple matter of resuming play as if nothing had happened.
The situation’s complexities are made all the more difficult by ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) that financed LIV Golf. Jon Rahm, a former signee who recently participated in LIV Golf events and was currently World No.3.
Scheffler’s sentiment represents a view that characterized the prevailing attitude among the LIV Golf defectors who stuck by the PGA Tour despite many leaving. He emphasized the significance of loyalty and commitment to PGA Tour, realizing that even though some players could have decided something else; however, there should be a visible but regulated way back also with regulations attached.
