[ad_1]
Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Author
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — If golf followers are upset that one of the best gamers on the earth aren’t enjoying in the identical occasions corresponding to this week’s Gamers Championship, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stated they should flip their anger to the facet that brought about the game to fracture.
“If the followers are upset, then have a look at the blokes that left,” Scheffler stated Tuesday. “We had a tour, we had been all collectively and the people who left are now not right here. On the finish of the day, that is the place the splintering comes from.
“So far as our tour goes, like I stated, we’re doing our greatest to create one of the best product for the followers, and that is actually the place we’re at.”
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Whereas Scheffler will attempt to defend his title on the fiftieth Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass, reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm and different previous main champions like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau aren’t within the subject as a result of they’re enjoying within the rival LIV Golf League.
The PGA Tour’s flagship occasion, generally known as the “fifth main,” does not boast the identical deep subject that it has prior to now.
“If guys need to go take the cash and depart, then that is their choice,” Scheffler stated. “I am not going to take a seat right here and inform guys to not take a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars}. If that is what they assume is finest for his or her life, then go do it. I am not going to take a seat right here and pressure guys to remain on our tour.
“However on the finish of the day, that is the place I need to be, and we’re persevering with to develop what we’re doing, and what they’re doing is just not actually a priority to me.”
Earlier Tuesday, throughout his first information convention for the reason that Tour Championship in Atlanta in August, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stated the circuit’s negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund had “accelerated.” The perimeters are discussing a possible $3 billion funding from the sovereign wealth fund, which has financed LIV Golf the previous three years.
Monahan and companions from Strategic Sports activities Group, a consortium of billionaire sports activities group house owners that has already introduced it is going to make investments as a lot as $3 billion into the PGA Tour, met with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in Saudi Arabia in January.
Monahan stated the tour realizes that followers are “bored with listening to about battle, cash and who’s getting what.”
One of many subsequent steps in a possible deal is Al-Rumayyan assembly with participant administrators on the PGA Tour coverage board, together with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. The participant administrators are additionally serving on the board of PGA Tour Enterprises, the for-profit entity created by the tour and SSG.
“I feel it is actually necessary that we’re all rowing in the identical path,” stated Patrick Cantlay, one of many participant administrators. “I feel with this PGA Tour Enterprises board, I feel it is actually thrilling that we do have an opportunity to form of begin with one thing new and all transfer collectively in the suitable path.”
Throughout Monahan’s information convention, a reporter requested if he believed he had the board’s full backing as he labored to maneuver the cope with the Saudis ahead. Monahan acknowledged that there is been “a variety of good, spirited debate amongst our board” about his future as commissioner.
“, that is a query that you will have to ask for gamers,” Monahan stated. “I can not generalize because it pertains to gamers, however clearly given the duty I have been given by each boards, I’ve the assist of our board, and I’m the suitable individual to guide us ahead. I do know that. I imagine that in my coronary heart, and I am decided to do precisely that.”
Xander Schauffele, the sixth-ranked golfer on the earth, stated he stays skeptical that Monahan is the suitable man to guide the tour. Schauffele has referred to as for Monahan’s resignation prior to now.
“Belief is one thing that is fairly tender, so phrases are phrases, and I’d say in my ebook he is received a protracted method to go,” Schauffele stated. “I am positive he is received the assist of the [player] board, since they had been with him making a few of these choices, however for me personally he is received fairly a methods to go.”
[ad_2]
Source link
