Matt Fitzpatrick feels confused and he’s not alone

A year ago at the US Open, the field was distracted by an entirely new phenomenon in professional men’s golf: several players who had turned their backs on the PGA Tour to defect to the rebellious LIV Golf circuit would compete for the first time against their former brethren.

Golfers had taken sides in a sport known for its individualism, creating an unfamiliar team-vs-team tension.

Twelve months later, and days after the seismic news of the US and European tours partnering with LIV Golf, the disruption at the 2022 US Open now seems like an almost insignificant distraction. Just ask Matt Fitzpatrick, who won that tournament in Brookline, Massachusetts, for his first win at a major tournament and also on the PGA Tour.

“I seem to remember last year just thinking about the tournament, just the US Open,” Fitzpatrick said Monday. “It was easier for me to mentally focus on that and be in a better place than of course all this confusion going on this week.

“It’s all confusing.”

Asked to explain what he found most confusing, Fitzpatrick couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Well, I guess I just don’t know what’s going on,” he replied. “I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on.”

Fitzpatrick mentioned the Saudi Public Investment Fund, known as PIF, whose staggering wealth has supported LIV.

“Do we sign with the PIF, don’t we sign with the PIF? I have no idea,” he said, adding, “It’s pretty obvious that no one knows what’s going on except about four people in the world.”

To prove that disorientation was universal in golf, Cameron Smith, who joined LIV not long after winning the British Open last year, followed Fitzpatrick into the Los Angeles Country Club interview room and essentially admitted that he had no idea had what would come next in his wave. chosen profession.

Smith could judge as something of an insider as he at least got a call from Yasir al-Rumayyan, who oversees the PIF and would become the chairman of the new company formed by combining the tours, about the blockbuster deal announced last week.

It was a good thing al-Ruymayyan called, as Smith said his initial reaction to the news was that “it was kind of a joke.” But al-Rumayyan informed Smith otherwise – without much detail.

“He didn’t really explain much,” Smith said. “I think there is still a lot to work out, and as time goes on we will find out more and more. I think he was calling a few different players, so the call was rather short and sweet.

Despite a lack of clarity about the future of professional golf, both Fitzpatrick and Smith have nonetheless been asked about two hot topics since the PGA Tour-LIV deal was announced.

For Fitzpatrick, there was the question of whether he thought players like himself who were loyal to the PGA Tour should be compensated for turning down the gobs of money LIV was offering.

At first, Fitzpatrick seemed poised to address the issue, which is perhaps the most fraught and unpredictable detail to be worked out over the next few weeks or months. But then Fitzpatrick paused. And paused. He smiled and then exhaled. His eyes wandered around the room. Finally, with a thin smile, he said, “Yes, pass.”

Smith was asked if he had received any indication that the LIV tour would continue beyond this year. He replied, “I really know as much as you know, to be honest. I haven’t been told much at all. I think if anything turns up, I’ll let you know.”

He declined to answer a question about whether he would like to return to the PGA Tour if LIV disbanded after this season, calling it “hypothetical.”

But he added: “I think I made the right decision anyway. I am very happy with where I am. I made that decision for several reasons, of course. Like I said, I know as much as anyone, and it will be interesting to see how the next few months, maybe even years, unfold.”

Smith’s demeanor was jovial, matching the mood of several LIV players who shook hands and smiled on Monday’s practice range.

“I haven’t been told much at all, but I’m just taking it as it comes,” said Smith. “But there are certainly a lot of curious players, I think, on both sides about what the future is going to look like.”

Fitzpatrick had an eye to the future as well as the past and fondly reflected on last year’s US Open.

“Have a great week,” he said, hoping to rekindle the magic he discovered.

But how much has changed in a year. On Monday, one question remained in particular. What now for golf?

Fitzpatrick shook his head.

“I’ll be honest, I literally know as much as you do,” he said. “I’m sure everyone has had questions about it. I found out when everyone else found out. Yeah, honestly I literally don’t know anything.