Cromwell, Connecticut — Xander Schauffele's spectacular approach shots launched Thursday on all 18 greens on the Travelers-regulated TPC River Highlands. I know that rumors are flying around. Championship.
Schauffele — 28 years old, 15th in the world, 5 PGA Tour winners who have finished in the top 7 of eight major championships since 2017 — has become a major target for Greg Norman-led LIV. I am. Golf tour.
He checks all the boxes of LIV Golf. He is young and has already been achieved as an Olympic gold medal winner and with his prime minister.
Among some players and caddies, Schauffele finallyBrooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and the three who reached the height of his career. It means following fellow players. Dive into a deep-pocketed, Saudi-backed tour that has disturbed the establishment of the PGA Tour.
Schauffele has a lot to come to mind lately.
Never knew it in the par 7 under 63 he posted in the first round of the Travelers,Rory McIlroy and J.T. Poston
Indeed, for Schauffele. Was a great start. But the question remains as to where he goes from here. After that, not the next three days at Travelers. Whether to make it LIV or not.
"I'm very happy with where I am ... PGA Tour "Schauffele told the post in a transparent and extensive interview after the round. "Obviously, I need to speak in general, so I won't cause any problems [later]."
Translation: Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka Koepka publicly said "no" to Saudi Arabia, and finally asked for each price and said "yes". This is a move that undermines their trust.
Schauffele has not closed the LIV Golf door. He is not afraid to let it know.
"I was in contact with them, but to be honest, it's been a while," Schauffele said. "Initially, I was in contact with them, but not recently."
Schauffele said, "Wrestle with myself as to whether to maintain the status quo or make money." I admitted that. Phil Mickelson was paid $ 200 million reported to participate, Johnson was paid $ 125 million reported, and DeChambeau was paid $ 100 million.
"My heart tells me to stay here, and it tells me to make this tour the best possible," Schauffele said. "Obviously, I can't do that individually. I need the help of other players. I also need the help of Commissioner Jay [Monahan] and all the staff. I believe this tour will be the best, They need to maintain the best tour. "
Schauffele In his announcement on Tuesday, he praised Monahan for increasing tournament wallets and shortening schedules., a corresponding element of the tour's top players, the announcement "may help keep us on this tour.
" But that's not the end, "he adds. rice field. "You have to keep pushing."
Schauffele boldly went to a place that no other player had ever been to. He called for more wallets following Monahan's lead in four major championships.
"Majors have never revealed their finances," he said. "I'm convinced that if Memorial, Genesis and Arnold Palmer could jump from $ 12 million to $ 20 million, these majors could be even higher."
Schauffele "I believe everyone has a number," he said. 'It will seduce them to LIV Golf, but he said he doesn't know what he is.
"I'm 28 and I love playing golf. The safest thing is to stay on this tour and make it better," he said. "If I got a ridiculous offer from the other side, it would probably make me think, but at the same time, why I like being here, and why I practice and get better. You really have to think if you're motivated. "
He said he spent a lot of time talking to him" Team "and his wife, Maya, staying About whether to go.
"I asked her many times," Do you think you like playing for her money? "" Schauffele said. "I don't mind making money, but my true love is for the game, and it puts me in a tricky place."
To stay on the PGA Tour Part of the pull is this: LIV Golf probably can't produce the electricity the game provided at The on Sunday, at least for the foreseeable future, the final round of the US Open country club.
"It's really about tradition," Schauffele said. "Major isn't part of the PGA Tour, but it feels like it's running in parallel. It depends on the differences between individual tradition and inventive step.
" The PGA Tour is very Captivated by being traditional, they aim to be more inventive, change and better. They say other tours are not a threat, but why they move. Are they dancing so fast to make?
"I'm not against them becoming aggressive rather than reactive."