PGA Tour golfer Jordan Spieth: “It’s not anyone’s fault”
Jordan Spieth: PGA Tour Needs More Time to Reach Agreement with LIV Golf PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth has stated that the North American golf circuit requires additional time to finalize a deal with LIV Golf’s Saudi financiers. In a recent interview with *Golfweek*, Spieth emphasized that the delay in reaching an agreement is not…
Jordan Spieth: PGA Tour Needs More Time to Reach Agreement with LIV Golf
PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth has stated that the North American golf circuit requires additional time to finalize a deal with LIV Golf’s Saudi financiers. In a recent interview with *Golfweek*, Spieth emphasized that the delay in reaching an agreement is not due to any fault but rather the complexity of the situation.
This marks Spieth’s first public comments since undergoing wrist surgery, with the golfer revealing plans to return to action in January. He explained that the top players in the sport have benefited greatly from the current landscape, though he acknowledged that the situation is “probably unsustainable.”
“The best players at the top levels have significantly benefited from this scenario that’s probably unsustainable,” Spieth remarked when discussing the state of men’s professional golf. “Hopefully, that’s being worked out right now. But it’s not a simple matter. It’s between two sides—two tours—with the involvement of the government. It’s not like everyone can just get together and sort this out in an hour.”
Spieth, who replaced Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour’s policy board last November, has been involved in ongoing discussions surrounding the potential merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He reassured fans that the delay is part of a necessary process, and despite frustrations, it is not anyone’s fault. “I’ve been very involved in all of this, and I can assure you that while it seems frustrating from the outside, it’s just the way things need to unfold. It’s going to take some time.”
The situation remains complex, with former PGA Tour board member Rory McIlroy resigning from his position, citing a need to focus on his professional game. McIlroy later expressed frustration, saying he felt as though his opinions were not being heard. He was reportedly asked to return to the discussions by his ally, Jimmy Dunne, to help resolve the ongoing impasse between the tours. Dunne, however, has since stepped down, and McIlroy’s potential return to the policy board has reportedly met resistance from Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and Tiger Woods.
As of now, it remains unclear what specific issues are holding up an agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, during a press conference in Atlanta, described the talks as “accelerating,” though he refrained from setting a deadline for the finalization of a deal.
**LIV’s Proposal to DP World Tour Rejected**
Over the weekend, *Sports Illustrated* reported that LIV Golf made an attempt to broker a deal with the DP World Tour in August. LIV officials reportedly proposed eliminating fines that players like Jon Rahm and others had accrued. Additionally, they offered to adjust their tournament schedule to avoid conflicts with the DP World Tour’s events and proposed millions of dollars in prize money, along with creating an exemption category for Asian Tour events.
However, the DP World Tour rejected the offer due to its existing “strategic alliance” with the PGA Tour.
**Jordan Spieth Injury Update**
Spieth recently underwent surgery on his left wrist following his early exit from the FedEx Cup playoffs. The wrist injury had been affecting his game since May 2023. Spieth admitted he had considered undergoing surgery earlier but ultimately decided to move forward with the procedure due to how the injury affected his daily life.
“I’d say the main reason I got it done was because it was affecting my life at home,” Spieth shared. “There were times when it would dislocate, and I couldn’t get it back in place. It would happen when I was getting my daughter out of the bath or putting on a sweatshirt—just at random times. It kept happening more frequently, and it wasn’t going to heal on its own based on what doctors and scans were showing. So surgery was inevitable.”
Despite the surgery, Spieth is optimistic about his recovery and has expressed plans to return to competitive golf in January 2024.