The shock merger between the PGA Tour and the rival LIV circuit has left a complicated path ahead for golfers, England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick mentioned on Monday as he ready to defend his US Open title.
The greatest gamers on the earth descend upon Los Angeles Country Club this week for the primary main to be performed after the bombshell announcement of a partnership between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Fitzpatrick delivered a rare efficiency final 12 months to assert his maiden main title in Brookline, Massachusetts, the place he gained 2013 US Amateur, however mentioned the continued drama was tougher to disregard this time round.
“I seem to remember just last year just thinking about the tournament, just the US Open,” he instructed reporters.
“It was obviously different because I had the tie to the golf course and the history there, so probably was easier for me to mentally focus on that and be in a better place than obviously all this confusion that’s going on this week.”
Fitzpatrick was amongst those that remained loyal to the PGA Tour throughout the rift, as a lot of his contemporaries defected to the rival circuit, lured by the super-sized pay days.
Asked if he believed he must be compensated ultimately for not going to the LIV tour, Fitzpatrick let loose a sigh and let the query cling within the air for a number of seconds earlier than responding: “Yeah, pass.”
Members of LIV, which was bankrolled by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), had remained eligible to compete in majors, although their presence in Los Angeles this week will convey a super-sized highlight at a time of uncertainty within the sport.
“I just don’t know what’s going on. I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on. Are we signing with the PIF, are we not signing with the PIF? I have no idea,” he mentioned.
“Even though I guess it is confusing, it’s pretty clear that nobody knows what’s going on apart from about four people in the world.”
The US Open begins on Thursday on the Los Angeles Country Club.