Adam Scott says the idea that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf need to come together for the overall health of professional golf isn’t necessarily true. In fact, the 2013 Masters champion said there was nothing wrong with the two rival circuits going about their business separately as LIV Golf eyes its second season.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have recently called for Australian Greg Norman to step down as LIV Golf’s chief executive. The pair see Norman, who tried to start a world tour in the 1990s which the PGA Tour shut down, as too disruptive to broker negotiations between the two organisations.
“There is no willingness to negotiate if you have litigation against you,” Woods said before his Hero World Challenge event this week. “Greg has to go first of all. If one side has so much animosity, trying to destroy our tour, then how do you work with that?” Woods’ comments came after McIlroy recently said Norman needed to “exit stage left” from LIV.
LIV, controversially funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, debuted this year with seven $25 million events and a $50 teams finale. Next year, its schedule will grow to 14 events, one of which will be in Adelaide in April, with a focus on the team franchises. In response to LIV’s growing threat, has created a new series of 17 elevated events where the top 20 stars on the PGA Tour will be guaranteed to tee up.
LIV has already poached PGA Tour stars like Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, and are looking to lure more as they try to beef up their 48-player roster, which will grow to 60
Speaking ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Scott said it appeared Woods and McIlroy were “speaking for the PGA Tour these days” but didn’t see a peace deal being struck any time soon.
“I guess they‘re [Woods and McIlroy] speaking for the PGA Tour somewhat these day it seems,” Scott said. “But I don’t know what this coming together is. I don’t know, is someone making that up? Like, is that a possibility? I don’t know. I really am not involved at that level at all and it seems like all speculation to me.
“I genuinely feel like LIV should get on with what they’re doing and the PGA Tour should get on with what they’re doing and it will all sought out, whether that’s together or not, I have no clue.
“But I don’t necessarily think that it has to be together or not together for the good of the game.
“I think the good of the game will prevail, but it’s a big shake-up and we’re not used to that. And that’s where I think it’s at at the moment.”
Scott said he’d love to win a second Australian Open crown this week to go with his 2009 victory at NSW Golf Club.
“Yeah, of course; I’ve had a great record generally at the Open, I just haven’t gotten across the line for a second time,” he said. “It’s great to be back playing for our national championship. I generally feel good about where my game is. It wasn’t amazing last week, but it might have been the week I needed to warm up to have a crack at this one.”
A win Melbourne could kickstart a stellar 2023 in the US, Scott said, even though he already feels good about his chances of a PGA Tour win next season. Something similar to Scott in 2019, when he won the Australian PGA that year and it catapulted him to a first PGA Tour win in four years, at Riviera, in 2020.
“It’s definitely helpful; winning fills you with confidence,” Scott said. “It’s hard to kid yourself into confidence like that. I’ve seen that happen several times for me down here in Australia, so that would be great. But I’m pretty spurred on to play well next year. I’m excited about what’s happening and what’s on offer next year for us, and the way I’ve kind of set myself up, a few changes here and there, I think it’s all looking like a lot of fun for me to play golf next year. But I’d love to be going in there with another trophy, for sure.
