Ever since LIV’s chaotic first year came to a close, the never-ending rumour mill has been rife with the notion that Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele would be next to join the breakaway series ahead of its revamped 2023 season.
Like most things LIV-related in 2022, the rumours seemed to lack any real credibility, with the majority of murmurs sparked on social media from fans reading between the lines.
Schauffele himself then weighed-in, providing the definition of tactful by doing everything he could do shut down the rumours without actually shutting them down at all.
And now, after months of keeping himself to himself amid the chaos, and having previously admitted a big money offer would be “very tempting”, Cantlay has responded to the latest set of rumours, insisting he has no plans “as of now” to join LIV Golf.
“I think it’s because I haven’t been too vocal one way or the other,” the PGA Tour said about the rumours at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. “So I think that’s probably where it is. Guys, for the most part, seem like they’re pretty polarised on this issue, and I view it as it’s been a competition for top talent, like any other business.
“But I have no plans to do that as of now, which has been my stance for, you know, basically since the whole time.”
Both Cantlay and Schauffele are in the field for the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions and American Express Championship in January, and seem set to remain in Jay Monahan’s circuit as it hosts a series of “elevated events” in 2023.
But despite pledging his loyalty to the PGA Tour (for now), Cantlay acknowledges that LIV’s presence has helped “innovate” golf over the past year, something which can only be good for the sport in the long run.
“I think that it’s been interesting how much it’s changed golf,” the World No 4 continued. “As in, like, everyone’s trying to innovate and make golf better all of a sudden.
“I think that will be a massive benefit for the viewer because I think now more than ever competition is making people evolve and making people grow and think outside the box.
“So I think it’s been really good and will be good for professional golf in the long run. But it’s been such a polarising issue that it’s made people, you know, feel emotional about something that has been the same for such a long time.”
George Cooper
