31 December 2023 , 19:47
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Patrick Cantlay has revealed he has no plans of following in the footsteps of Jon Rahm and join the LIV Golf circuit, after pledging his loyalties to the PGA Tour.
Cantlay's name is often one that is thrown into the hat when it comes to LIV's poaching rumours, having not been too far from controversy in recent months. The American has however ruled out his chances of making the Saudi switch.
In an interview with Golf.com, he said: "It’s a personal calculation based on your values, your priorities, etc. So I don’t think it’s a surprise that there’s a certain type of player that’s tended to go over there, on the whole.
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"For me? I have no plans on joining LIV. I don’t plan on joining LIV. I see myself playing on the PGA Tour.” Cantlay's stance will not come as a surprise to many, with a number of reports in recent months alleging the American has gained a strong grip on the PGA Tour.
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Barstool Sports' Dan Rapaport claimed earlier this month that Cantlay was now 'calling the shots' on the American-based circuit. The former FedEx Cup champion is one of six Player Directors on the Tour's Policy Board, joining the likes of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
A report from the Telegraph then revealed that Cantlay was trying to 'take over' the Policy Board, and was to blame for the PGA Tour losing one of their most prized assets in Jon Rahm to LIV Golf. “If Cantlay had not tried to take over the Policy Board, then Jay [Monahan] would have made a deal with the Saudis and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) would not have felt the need to re-open that limitless wallet to sign Rahm,” a Telegraph source said.
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Patrick Cantlay has found himself surrounded in controversy in 2023“But the Saudis believed they were in danger of being cut out by all the US investors that had suddenly appeared and been encouraged by a few of the other players on the policy board, so PIF acted.” Cantlay however was quick to play down the the reports surrounding his new-found power.
"I just don’t think you can trust everything you read on the internet," he added "I think if you just look at the facts that are out there, it would be impossible for any one player to take control. I mean, it would be impossible for all the players together to take control; we only have half the seats on the board, and any major vote around any of the things we’ve been talking about requires a two-thirds majority."
Cantlay's role on the board is more important than ever, with the PGA Tour's framework agreement negotiations with PIF still ongoing. The two sides had set themselves a deadline of December 31 but with this being missed, negotiations will now continue into the New Year.