Scottie Scheffler takes shot at LIV golfers as PGA Tour merger talks crawl along

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Scottie Scheffer doesn’t pull many shots while he’s on the golf course and didn’t pull any punches with his comments about the ongoing talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

While speaking at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Tex., site of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer called out colleagues that defected to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour for holding up potential merger talks between the two groups.

“I have said it a few times this year: If you want to figure out what’s going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys,” Scheffler said. “I’m still here playing the PGA Tour.

“We had a tour where we all played together and, the guys that left, it’s their responsibility, I think, to bring the tours back together.

“Go see where they’re playing this week and ask them.”

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Scheffler’s last comment appeared to be a thinly veiled dig at LIV Golf’s light schedule, as the tour’s previous tournament in South Korea ended on May 4 and the next event tees up in two weeks, on June 6 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.

It has been nearly two years since the PGA Tour announced that it would be merging with LIV Golf, with reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund would be pumping money into the combined outfit.

Since the announcement, lengthy discussions have yet to bring a deal to fruition that would allow tournaments to feature all of the world’s top players.

Last week, Scheffler captured the PGA Championship in dominant fashion for his third career major championship. He ran away with the win as LIV golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm crumbled down the stretch.

While LIV players are allowed to compete in the sport’s four majors, they are barred from most PGA Tour events. Scheffler, who has 15 wins on Tour, was asked if his results would’ve been affected by the presence of LIV Golf stars.

“Who knows? I only get to compete against those guys four times a year. That was their choice, not mine,” Scheffler said on Wednesday.

“At the end of the day I’m here competing and doing the best I can, and that kind of stuff, what’s the point of me thinking about, you know? There’s really absolutely no point to that.

“We get four chances to compete against them. Last week went well. I get another chance here in a few weeks.”

The next time he will face off against the stars of LIV Golf will come at the U.S. Open, beginning on June 12 at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas.

At the Charles Schwab Challenge, Scheffler carded a 2-under 68 in his first round, sitting three strokes back of leader John Pak heading into Friday’s play. Scheffler had opened his round strong, scoring an eagle on the first hole.