The top-ranked player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, is concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding the PGA Tour’s prospective agreement with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Prior to the Genesis Scottish Open, Scheffler addressed this issue.
“As a PGA Tour player, we still don’t have a lot of clarity as to what’s going on, and that’s a bit concerning,” Scheffler acknowledged in his pre-event press conference.
“They keep saying that it’s a player-run organization, but we lack the necessary information… We participate in none of the discussions.”
The PGA asserts that it is a player-led organization. It is undoubtedly intriguing that the players know as much about this transaction as Joe Schmoe on the couch.
Ron Price and Jimmy Dunne testified before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) of the Senate on July 11 to discuss the inner workings of the PGA’s framework agreement with the PIF.
Scheffler was left with more concerns than answers as the entire golfing world, including players, tuned in.
Scheffler remarked, “I watched a portion of [the hearing] yesterday and learned nothing.” “I don’t know what that entails because it’s merely a framework agreement.”
PSI’s release of a 276-page document as part of its investigation may have been the hearing’s greatest revelation on July 11.
This document contains communications, emails, and propositions between PGA and LIV Golf officials, several of which call for the termination of LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman.
Another point suggested that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy would own LIV Golf teams, while Yasir al-Rumayyan, Governor of the PIF, would become a member of Augusta National.
Scheffler, despite his apprehensions, is disregarding these distractions.
“I just try to keep my head down and play golf,” said Scheffler. “I enjoy playing golf on the PGA Tour, so that’s where I belong. I hope that will exist for a very long time. Before the agreement, I thought we were doing a fine job, but now we have to negotiate the entire deal.”
Scheffler has excelled on the PGA Tour this year, as he has 11 top-10 finishes since the year 2023 began. The victories include the Waste Management Phoenix Open and The Players Championship.
Now his focus shifts to the British Isles, where he expects to perform well at the Scottish Open before the Open Championship, the final major of the year, next week.
