There are cycles in life that inexorably repeat themselves: being born, growing up and dying, the Ryder Cup every two years, Real Madrid in a Champions League final and until very recently, Nadal winning Roland Garros… Situations that, whether you like them or not, occur. In golf, there are also quite a few cycles and in recent times there is one that never fails: a Major ends and rumours of possible players leaving for the LIV begin. Whether they are true or not is beside the point, but the fact that it repeats without fail is undeniable.
Viktor Hovland has been the focus on many occasions, Rory goes without saying and, of course, Jon himself. Perhaps the only one who escapes the gossip is Scottie Scheffler. In some cases, they ended up being confirmed, as was the case with Rahm. On many other occasions, the negotiations did not reach fruition or did not even exist. “It doesn’t matter if one is spoken well or badly of, but that one is spoken of,” goes a popular saying. LIV has moved wonderfully in these paths.
The PGA Championship has just ended and it was time for the cycle to restart. Well, Xander Schauffele’s father wanted to get ahead. He has left no room for gossip or talk. His son was cannon fodder for possible rumours of a move to LIV Golf and he has categorically made it clear that Xander has no intention of going to the Saudi circuit: “There is no chance. Xander is not chasing money, he is chasing legacy. And in my opinion, as a father, there was never any chance,” Stefan told GOLF.com.
He does acknowledge that there were negotiations and that they even sat down, but that nothing has changed from the answer they gave then: “What we told LIV in Saudi Arabia, with Xander at my side, was that if there is no way back to the PGA Tour and if there is no opportunity to earn points in the World Ranking we have nothing to talk about. Even if they throw hundreds of millions of dollars at him. That word still stands.”
It can be said louder, but not clearer. Logically at a certain point everyone thinks about the numerous changes of opinion that have occurred on this subject. However, Stefan himself, half jokingly, half seriously, maintained the firmness of his decision: “They don’t call me The Ogre for no reason. I keep my word,” he wanted to conclude.
Who will be the next player on the list of possible rumours?
