Patrick Cantlay and Goldman Sachs Part Ways, and LIV Rumors are Swirling

Patrick Cantlay and Goldman Sachs are parting ways after four years of sponsorship, and the rumors of the American’s potential defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf are swirling through the golf community.

The financial firm confirmed the termination of the sponsorship to Cantlay to DealBook:

“We constantly evaluate the firm’s partnerships, and at this time, our logo will no longer appear on his hat.”

The culmination of many things, including the termination of the sponsorship, is now catalyzing rumors of Cantlay potentially heading to LIV Golf before the PGA Tour season kicks off.

At this point, I would be surprised if Patrick Cantlay to LIV isn’t announced soon.

• Refused to wear his hat at the Ryder Cup

• Loses Goldman Sachs as sponsor

• Withdrawal from Hero World Challenge pic.twitter.com/3LLRy7o5hJ

— John Nucci (@JNucci23) November 21, 2023

In January, Cantlay said that he was not planning to go to LIV, and that “it’s important to be informed and to weigh the options that you have.” However, a lot has changed, and it’s no secret that other golfers have said the same thing and then eventually left to join the PGA Tour’s rival.

Cantlay admitted that LIV was an attractive option and that he had “thought about it quite a lot.”

Recently, things have transpired that seem to indicate Cantlay may be more prone to making a move.

At the Ryder Cup, Cantlay did not wear a hat, and although many people took this as a sign he was protesting the lack of pay for the event, he had chosen not to wear a hat during previous appearances.

On top of that, Cantlay pulled out of the Hero World Challenge that will take place in December in the Bahamas and is hosted by Tiger Woods.

Then, Rory McIlroy reportedly had certain words to describe his relationship with Cantlay. As the PGA Tour’s unlabeled spokesperson, Cantlay may not have understood where the barbs came from. 

Of course, McIlroy and Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, had a dust up at the Ryder Cup. Afterward, Rory called Cantlay a “dick” (via NBC Sports):

“We get to the hotel, and as you come into the lobby we go left to our wing of the hotel, and the Americans go right to their wing. So, we’re going left and someone is shouting at me, ‘Rory! Rory!’, and I look back and it’s Ricky Elliott and Claude Harmon. And they’re trying to defuse the situation, but I start having a go at them: ‘Joe LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger, and now he’s caddying for that d*ck he’s turned into a …’ I still wasn’t in a great headspace.”

Whether Cantlay leaves for LIV remains to be seen. However, there are plenty of things that have transpired since the rumors have started that could hint he is thinking about defecting from the Tour.

Cover Image via Golf Digest