Schauffele refuses to rule out LIV move after calls on PGA Tour boss to quit

24 January 2024 , 13:01

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Xander Schauffele addressed his LIV Golf links (Image: Getty Images)

Xander Schauffele has refused to rule out making the move to LIV Golf at some point in his career, having been heavily linked to the breakaway league over the past two seasons.

Since its formation in June 2022, LIV has lured in a number of PGA Tour stars, and one name that is often linked with being the next potential defector is Schauffele. For now the American has opted to continue playing his golf on the Tour, but did claim a move could well happen one day.

"It's funny that when asked about [joining LIV Golf] I feel I have been as honest as possible, and dodged the question," Schauffele told the Fore Play Podcast about the rumours.

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"I am not going to pledge to the Tour, and there are only a handful of guys who have done this, but I am not going to pledge ‘I am going to play [PGA Tour] forever’ and I am not saying I am gonna go there. I just say I’m here right now, which is just a fact."

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Schauffele may well get the chance to play across both circuits at some point down the line, with negotiations between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia [PIF] ongoing. Initial news of a potential merger shocked the world of golf, following the Tour's official announcement last June.

In the aftermath Tour commissioner Jay Monahan faced a whole host of backlash from players for his discrete handling of the Saudi u-turn. One in particular who felt he had been left in the dark was Schauffele, and late last year suggested Monahan should step aside from his role.

Xander Schauffele has remained with the PGA Tour (Getty Images)

"I wouldn’t mind seeing some new leadership take place on our circuit,” he told Today's Golfer. I would be lying if I said that I have a whole lot of trust after what happened. That’s definitely the consensus that I get when I talk to a lot of guys.

"It’s a bit contradictory when they call it ‘our Tour’ and things can happen without us even knowing. It’s hard. I’m sure there are reasons for what happened, but at the same time, it puts us in a really hard spot to trust the leadership that did some stuff in the dark and is supposed to have our best interests at heart."

For now Schauffele remains a PGA Tour player and has had an impressive start to 2024, finishing in a tie for 10th at The Sentry, before a tied-third came at last week's American Express, two shots behind eventual champion Nick Dunlap. He has committed to this week's Farmers Insurance Open too, with the 30-year-old gunning for his first win on Tour in 18 months.

Joshua Lees