Scottie Scheffler 'not going to LIV anytime soon'
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[January 06, 2023]
Scottie Scheffler's first two experiences at the Tournament of
Champions couldn't have been much different.
Two years ago, he got into the traditionally winners-only field
courtesy of an expanded field. Scheffler had yet to win on the PGA
Tour, but the 2021 event also included Tour Championship qualifiers
from the previous year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
on the tour's schedule.
This week, he arrived at Maui as a four-time winner on tour and a
major champion as part of a 2022 that included ascending to No. 1 in
the world rankings.
Scheffler is the highest-ranked player in the field this week at No.
2, which in itself is part of the chaotic landscape in professional
golf.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy isn't at Kapalua, choosing the TOC as the
one he will skip among the newly formed group of five "designated
events." Defending champion Cameron Smith also isn't in the field
after signing with LIV Golf -- which helped prompt the sea change to
designated events and "elevated" purses on the PGA Tour.
The field does include 39 players, however, with the addition of
Tour Championship qualifiers now the norm.
"It's kind of weird this week," Scheffler said Wednesday. "I get to
my locker, and my locker's next to Cam Smith's locker, because he's
a past champ here, and he's not here.
"So it's a little strange."
Scheffler admittedly is not the most outspoken amongst his peers on
either side of the debate, although he reiterated that he has no
intention of bolting for LIV.
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"All that stuff is not really for me," he said. "I can only show up
and just try and play good golf. And I'm not going to LIV anytime
soon and so it's not of a concern for me at the moment."
Of greater concern to
Scheffler is regaining the dominant form that saw him win the
Masters last April. That was his last victory, although he does have
a runner-up and a pair of T3s in his past six starts.
Scheffler does have the Masters Champions Dinner to plan for, which
will include several past champions who are now playing for LIV.
Among them is Bubba Watson, a two-time champion Scheffler randomly
saw on a recent vacation.
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"I told him that I was just going to have a separate table for him
in the corner by himself," Scheffler said laughingly. "Only kidding,
obviously."
Scheffler added that he believes the players can put their
differences aside when they reach Augusta National and focus on
celebrating the history of the event along with the game itself.
"In the world of golf, I think it's definitely a little sad what's
happening," he said. "But golf will move on. I think this stuff just
takes time.
"Things will heal and we'll see what happens."
--Field Level Media
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