Scottie Scheffler on Pro Golf Division: “If The Fans Are Upset, Look at the Guys That Left”

Scottie Scheffler was asked his thoughts on the state of the PGA Tour – following his convincing victory at Bay Hill by five strokes.

He was asked specifically how much the players are concerned about the fans being left with a worse product after the splintering of the PGA Tour. With the top guys now spread across the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour, obviously the fan experience is hindered.

Some took the 30% drop in viewing figures at Bay Hill this year as an indicator of a watered down product on the PGA Tour – but more likely the end result was guaranteed after the first couple of holes, such was the relentless nature of Scottie’s game.

He answered the question well:

“If guys want to leave, that’s their decision. I’m not going to sit here and tell guys not to take hundreds of millions of dollars …If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left. We had a Tour where we were all together, the people that left are no longer here. At the end of the day, that’s where the splintering comes from”.

He isn’t wrong. Its tough for the PGA Tour guys to sit and face questions about the quality of their product, when they have remained exactly where they are. Scheffler commands huge respect in the professional game we all remember Koepka’s face in Season 1 of Full Swing when he realised he couldn’t compete with the likes of Scheffler anymore.

“If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left.”

Scottie Scheffler shares his thoughts on the current separation of men’s professional golf. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/vehA1irEYq

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 12, 2024

He since made a recovery, but we all know that Scottie’s game deterred many from wanting to pursue the PGA Tour anymore.

Now, this sort of answer has been shared repeatedly across social media because Scottie is a no-nonsense guy and is speaking sense. He isn’t necessarily calling out the LIV guys, but sure isn’t going to sit and take questions about the quality of his Tur, especially when he just delivered one of the more emphatic wins this decade at Arnie’s place.

The Players Championship awaits this weekend, where Scheffler looks to make it back-to-back, they are still sticking with the tagline ‘the strongest field in golf’ which is a tough sell, seeing as half of the last 30 major champions will not be teeing it up. Ut as Scheffler said, this is no fault of anyone on the PGA Tour.

Cover Image via Golf