Scottie Scheffler did not take kindly to LIV Golf questions last time he was asked.
After playing his first round of the Cadillac Championship at Doral, Scheffler was asked about the news that the Saudi Public Investment fund were withdrawing support for LIV next season.
Scheffler’s response? “I just got off the golf course. I don’t know what you want from me.” He came under fire from fans for this answer. A lot is expected of a world number one, including a willingness to answer difficult questions at almost any time, especially in a press conference.
Rory McIlroy held that mantle for years, and Scheffler seems hesitant to take it from him.
Scottie Scheffler says he needs to be asked about LIV Golf in the ‘right forum’
Scheffler has been increasingly frosty with reporters at times this year. He snapped during a post-round presser at The Masters, calling one question a “horrible question” before walking it back, then refused to answer a question about LIV Golf which was being put to every player.
So before the PGA Championship, Scheffler was asked if he feels some responsibility to speak on golf’s biggest issues as the world number one.
Scheffler responded, “I think when it comes to like the bigger issues in the game of golf, like I just try to answer them as honestly as I can. I think there’s also like a time and a place for them. I think in a forum like this where I’m going to be sitting and talking for a bit longer, it’s a lot easier to talk about those types of discussions.
“Also, if I’m sitting one-on-one with somebody, that’s a lot easier for me to talk about something as complex as the golf ball rollback. That’s a complex issue, I think, in the game of golf. The fix is a lot — it’s simpler, but it’s also more complicated when you look at — it’s just a longer discussion.
“So I think there’s a time and a place for it. But when I get asked questions, I try to answer them as honestly as I can. I don’t really feel like there’s any sort of extra things that I need to do. It’s just if somebody wants to ask me a question about LIV guys or the golf ball rollback, like I’ll try to give you the best answer I can in the right forum.”
So Scheffler says it isn’t the questions that are the issue, it’s the forum they are being asked in. But for someone of Scheffler’s stature, is that really good enough?
Why Scottie Scheffler is wrong to blow off LIV Golf questions
In isolation, what Scheffler is saying is fair enough. But no other golfer is behaving in this way, so how can the world number one justify it?
Every golfer who was interviewed after their opening round at Doral was asked about LIV Golf. Cameron Young and Jordan Spieth gave thoughtful responses, so why is Scheffler above doing the same?
And before the PGA Championship, McIlroy was asked about LIV Golf and he made it obvious that he didn’t really like discussing it any more. “Yes. Love talking about this,” he said sarcastically.
But he gave a long, and really insightful answer anyway, taking on the responsibility of the face of the sport. He knows that it’s part of his job, no matter if he likes it or not.
So it’s time Scheffler realises the same. As world number one, he doesn’t have the luxury of picking and choosing when he speaks on these topics.
