Report: Patrick Cantlay leading PGA Tour players' 'coup d'état' against LIV deal
PGA Tour pro Patrick Cantlay is reportedly one of the leading players rallying hard against the deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers, according to a report.
Patrick Cantlay is reportedly one of the leading players rallying hard against the PGA Tour's deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers.
When rumours of the rival league financed by Saudi Arabia's PIF began to gather steam in early 2022, Cantlay told of how he was a 'curious observer'.
To this day he has remained loyal despite multiple reports he was ready to turn his back on the PGA Tour with Xander Schauffele.
Through the last 18 months, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that his comments in public have demonstrated that he has sat on the fence.
Rory McIlroy he is not.
According to Golfweek's Eamon Lynch, Cantlay is one of the golfers who is really unhappy with the proposal to align the commercial interests of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF.
A new, for-profit company is said to be created in the not too distant future. The deal between the PGA Tour and LIV was brokered over a series of secret meetings across the globe between the PGA Tour's Jay Monahan and Jimmy Dunne, alongside Saudi businessman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
All litigation between the two organisations has now been withdrawn. It's clear that nobody really knows anything.
"There are so many unanswered questions that at this point I wouldn't want to waste time thinking about it," Jon Rahm said before the Travelers Championship.
Per Lynch, one of the reasons why Cantlay is speaking out against the proposal is that he allegedly doesn't feel as though he can reap the benefits should PIF and the PGA Tour's deal get over the line.
In other words, he would lose leverage. Despite being an accomplished player more than capable of winning major championships, Cantlay is not a 'needle mover'.
Cantlay came 19th in the 2022 Player Impact Program, earning a $2m bonus cheque. He didn't any bonus money from the inaugural PIP.
Reported Lynch:
Cantlay isn't the only player to voice his frustration publicly. Cantlay's good friend Schauffele slammed the lack of transparency.
Adam Scott, too, also expressed some frustration with the top brass.
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