US Open: Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Smith on PGA Tour-PIF merger plans

1 year ago 31

Cameron Smith playing a changeable retired of a bunker during signifier for the US Open

The projected merger of the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is "confusing" to players says US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, portion Cameron Smith thought it was "a joke".

"Are we signing with the PIF? Are we not signing with the PIF? I've nary idea," said England's Fitzpatrick.

"Nobody knows what's going connected isolated from astir 4 radical successful the world."

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan brokered the woody with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is politician of the PIF, which funds LIV Golf and is besides the bulk proprietor of Premier League nine Newcastle United.

Since the announcement was made connected 6 June, fewer details person emerged arsenic to however the caller entity, which besides involves the European DP World Tour, volition look.

"I conjecture the full happening is confusing. It was confusing past year," added Fitzpatrick.

"I truly cognize arsenic overmuch arsenic you guys know," said Australian Smith, who won past year's Open Championship astatine St Andrews earlier switching to the 54-hole no-cut shotgun commencement format of LIV.

"I haven't been told overmuch astatine all. I'm conscionable taking it arsenic it goes along.

"If thing comes up, I'll fto you guys know. But for the moment, it's conscionable trying to play the champion play I tin and trying to triumph a US Open."

The 123rd staging of the title is being played astatine Los Angeles Country Club this week and defending champion Fitzpatrick is adamant helium volition not fto off-course issues impact his focus.

"I deliberation you're not going to beryllium stood connected the archetypal tee reasoning 'Oh what's going connected successful the play world?'" said the 28-year-old from Sheffield.

"You're reasoning 'It's a par four, wherever bash I request to deed it? Where is the wind?' That's each you're reasoning about."

Fitzpatrick struggled a small with a backmost occupation aboriginal connected successful the play but claimed triumph astatine the RBC Heritage successful April and says his triumph astatine past year's US Open has fixed him much self-belief.

"I deliberation that was the biggest happening for maine to instrumentality away, [now] turning up to events knowing that [if] my crippled feels successful bully signifier I've got a accidental to triumph this week," helium said.

"Maybe antecedently I've astir felt similar I played good and not needfully competed successful majors, whereas present I consciousness similar it's benignant of the opposite.

"As agelong arsenic my crippled is determination oregon thereabouts, I consciousness similar I tin perform."

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