Patrick Cantlay believes there is a certain type of player who joins LIV Golf… and he isn’t one of them.
Having joined the policy board this year for the first time, the American appears to be firmly established in the PGA Tour. The great white sharks at LIV Golf are still circling in spite of this.
“I turned down offers,” Cantlay admitted to Golf Magazine.
Both before and after joining the board. In the same meeting where my management team presented me with the latest offer, I turned it down.
It’s an individual computation based on your priorities, values, and other factors. Therefore, I don’t think it’s shocking that, generally speaking, a particular kind of player has a tendency to go over there. For me? I do not intend to participate in LIV. I’m not going to be a part of LIV. My goal is to compete on the PGA Tour.”
Having said that, every golfer has a cost. Just ask Jon Rahm, who initially felt the same way about LIV Golf but ultimately made a surprising decision to cross the divide last month.
Negotiations are underway to merge the top Tours in golf with Saudi Arabia’s seemingly limitless Public Investment Fund. The fact that the original deadline of December 31, 2023, was missed may be a sign of difficulties occurring behind closed doors.
Cantlay refuted reports that he is in charge of the negotiations, saying that one person cannot assume control.
“It would be impossible for any one player to take control, if you just look at the facts that are out there,” he went on.
“I mean, with only half the seats on the board and a two-thirds majority needed for any major vote on any of the issues we’ve been discussing, it would be impossible for all the players combined to seize control. Furthermore, given that the tour has been driving talks since before the framework agreement was announced and that it has hired (investment bank) Allen and Co., it is simply not possible for that to be the case given the facts.”
