Xander Schauffele ridicules PGA Tour 'loyalists' with just two words

It's no secret Xander Schauffele has long been a target for the lucrative LIV Golf League. 

The PGA Tour star was reportedly on the verge of joining the breakaway in the initial wave of defections that included the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. 

But amid Mickelson's remarks of essentially saying the quiet part loud which almost torpedoed the whole show before it began, Schauffele and his team hastily released a statement confirming he wasn't going anywhere. 

"My allegiance is to the PGA Tour," he wrote on 24 February 2022.

That statement added he believed positive change was about to come to the PGA Tour regarding intellectual property rights, size of purses and overall transparency. 

Since then it is not unreasonable to suggest that change has come in spades. 

Prize purses have increased - albeit to unsustainable levels - and the players have more power than ever before. 

Over the last two years Schauffele's answers about whether he would join LIV have been largely the same. 

He's happy, for now. 

On the most recent edition of the Fore Play podcast, Schauffele opened up on the topic. 

"There's maybe a handful of guys who've done this, but like, I'm not like, I'm gonna play here forever," said Schauffele, who is in the field at the Farmers Insurance Open. 

"I'm not saying I'm gonna go there. I just say I'm here right now."

The World No. 5 then revealed what he finds humorous about the topic. 

"I mean, the funniest thing is that everyone that says they're going to stay, [are the ones to leave]… as soon as I hear someone saying, 'I'm for sure staying, I'm pledging' 'I'm like, you're gone.'"

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by . (@golfmagic)

Jon Rahm was perhaps the highest-profile athlete to declare his allegiance to the PGA Tour, only to change his mind. 

Before LIV played their inaugural event in June 2022, the Spaniard pledged his 'fealty' to the North American circuit. 

After making those comments, Rahm always appeared steadfast in his position he wasn't going anywhere. 

"We all had a chance to leave," the reigning Masters champion explained before the 151st Open. 

Rahm officially joined LIV Golf on 8 December 2023 in a deal that is said to be worth £450m. 

Read more:

• Tommy Fleetwood offers most Tommy Fleetwood response ever to LIV speculation
• Martin Kaymer targets 'another' European after confirming LIV Golf signing
• LIV Golf pro: "It's not what I thought my career would look like"
• Smith | LIV Golf is still far too confusing and needs to change