Smith: "It's time we start listening more to Scottie Scheffler"

Since LIV Golf's noisy introduction to the sport in 2022, hot takes have been flooding in about how to repair the fractured men's game, improve the product for fans and Grow The Game™. 

At this point, I feel it is fair to say the vast majority of those interested in the sport are simply exhausted.

I know I am. 

Instead of just watching golf, it seems like all we do these days is talk about prize purses, the size of LIV contracts, TV deals, viewing figures, the legitimacy of the world ranking points system, legal battles and trying to make sense of the DP World Tour's policies for fining and suspending players and how it will affect European Ryder Cup qualification. 

Throw in conjecture about which star name will be the next to jump ship and the pathways back to the PGA for the likes of Bryson, Brooks et al and this is basically me:

To make matters worse, we are constantly being told what should happen. 

Two-time major champion Justin Thomas became the latest player to be guilty of this offence last week. 

Thomas wrote a lengthy letter to the entire membership imploring his peers to think about being 'more open' which, in turn, will be more interesting for spectators. 

He suggested golfers should think about doing more pre and mid-round interviews and pleaded with players to come forward with any ideas they had. 

The American is not the only one. 

Rory McIlroy's solutions are never in short supply. 

McIlroy claims there are far too many events on the PGA Tour's schedule and their traditional offering has been 'diminished' by the volume of competition elsewhere. 

Of course, McIlroy was referencing LIV and the rise of YouTube golf content. 

McIlroy suggested scaling back and adopting an NFL-like schedule. 

"47 to 50 tournaments a year is definitely too many," he said. 

Perhaps it is time we start listening more to Scottie Scheffler. 

The World No.1 told reporters before the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am he did read the letter penned by Thomas. 

"I think Justin did bring up some good points about being open to doing a bit more stuff," he said. 

"But at the end of the day I think what people like is competition.

"I think the more we can stop talking about all the other BS that's going on in the game of golf [the better it will be]."

Scheffler said he tuned into the NFL playoffs last week simply because he was excited to watch great teams going against each other. 

"So when I think about something that would be good for the game of golf, I think the more we can get back in the competition of things, I think that's what's best," he said. 

Scheffler spoke of the influence of Tiger Woods and how, during his pomp, the big cat 'didn't do anything extra to put on a show'. 

In other words, his clubs did the talking.

"It was electric at times," he said. 

It's the same approach he has and will continue to take. 

"I try to be as honest as possible, but there are certain aspects of my life that I like to keep private," he added.  

"I never strived to be an entertainer. [I have] always loved playing golf. 

"This is what I love to do is come out here and compete. 

"If people want to watch and enjoy, then come on out and have a good time. 

"But I'm not going to put on a show or do anything crazy to try to get more people to watch me."

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