[PHOTO: Getty Images]
With the attempt to end the division in professional golf dragging out almost two years since the 2023 “framework agreement”, PGA Tour player advisory council player director Adam Scott has found himself involved in high-level discussions involving Tiger Woods and US president Donald Trump.
In early February, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Scott and Woods met with Trump at the White House in Washington DC. The quartet discussed how to reunify the professional game amid attempts by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf, to become an investor in the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises.
Scott, speaking in the media centre at TPC Sawgrass ahead of the Players Championship this week, was asked a brilliant question about what the most surprising part of visiting the White House.
“I think it was quickly, it was obvious to me very quickly when they were setting up for the Israeli delegation right after our meeting and putting like the Israeli flag and the US flag and getting that room ready that our [golf] conversation was pretty low in the importance of what was happening that day,” Scott said as reporters erupted in laughter. “And really, the President had far more important things to focus on, and I encouraged him to go and do that well for everyone’s sake after our meeting [smiling].”
Understandably, Scott categorically ruled out any future in politics. “No, no; definitely not,” he said.
Scott, the 2004 Players champion, admitted he never could have predicted golf would take him to the White House for pseudo-political and golf discussions with the US president.Â
“It is a surprise that it’s taken this turn. It was an incredible experience to be at the White House and be in the Oval Office and see the goings-on of what’s happening in Washington DC, but it’s not something that I really feel like I need to or want to spend more time on,” Scott said. “I want to play better golf, to be perfectly honest with you. That would be nice. I probably should spend that time practising.”
Scott is one of five Australians in the field at the 51st edition of the Players Championship. He and Jason Day (2016) are the only past champions of the TPC Sawgrass spectacle, while Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee and last week’s Puerto Rico Open winner, Karl Vilips, round out the Australian contingent.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
AUSSIES IN THE FIELD: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Karl Vilips
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Scottie Scheffler (USA)
PRIZEMONEY: US$25 million ($A40 million)
LIVE SCORES: https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard
TV COVERAGE: THE PLAYERS Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEST.
Round 1: Thursday 10:30pm-10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Round 2: Friday 10:30pm-10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Round 3: Saturday 10:30pm-10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 10:30pm-9am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
