Adam Scott says the PGA Tour and LIV golf won’t be reuniting any time soon
Adam Scott has confirmed his return to Australian golf while delivering a blunt assessment of golf's ongoing civil war, saying a PGA Tour-LIV merger remains unlikely.
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Adam Scott says he wouldn’t be holding his breath for reunification between the PGA Tour and LIV golf any time soon, declaring there had been “no developments” this year in the wake of meetings he had with US President Donald Trump.
The 2013 Masters champion delivered the sobering news as he revealed the chance to play an Australian Open at Royal Melbourne for the first time in his decorated career made his return an easy choice e events later this year after staying away in 2024.
There was widespread disappointment after Scott missed the Open and Australian PGA last year, with several players expressing their disappointment with the dual-gender format the Open in particular, which has been ditched for standalone men’s and women’s events.
Scott will prepare for Royal Melbourne at the Australian PGA Championship (November 27-30, Royal Queensland) and the Cathedral Invitational (December 9-10, Cathedral Golf Club and Lodge).
“I feel like I’ve done my best my whole career to support the events in Australia, and I felt like missing one (year) would be OK, but I’m very excited to come back again and play this year,” Scott sad on Wednesday.
“I’m excited to come home to play at my home club Royal Queensland at the PGA again, and then, of course, it’s very exciting to see the Australian Open move to Royal Melbourne this year for the first time in my career.
“I’m glad I’m going to get that opportunity at long last, and finishing out with Cathedral, which is a really fun way to end the year in a far more relaxed environment.”
Royal Melbourne will host the Australian Open for the first time since 1991, with the field also including world No.2 Rory McIlroy, who this year secured a career Grand Slam with his win at the Masters.
“No doubt it made big headlines (overseas) that Rory was coming down to play at Australia,” Scott said.
“That pushed Royal Melbourne out there even more, and there are a fair few guys who played the Presidents Cup in 2019 at Royal Melbourne, and it’s certainly gotten a lot of attention from the players right through the ranks, from the top guys on down.
“Royal Melbourne has an incredible history and reputation that a lot of guys would like to experience.
“It’s got this reputation, and rightly so, of being our greatest golf course. With the announcement of Rory coming down to play, it refreshed everyone’s mind how good it is.
“There has definitely been 100 times more interest in the Australian Open and the events in Australia this year.”
Scott, 45, said he would plan his schedule between now and November to ensure he was feeling physically and mentally fresh in his bids to win a second Australian Open and a third Australian PGA title.
“I've learned my lesson a little bit the last couple years that I’m at the point where I can’t continue pushing myself,” he said.
“It just doesn’t work like it used to, so I’m going to try, to not take it easy, but plan my time a little better because I certainly want to come down and perform and give myself a shot at these great trophies at home.”
Scott said this year had been frustrating for him, believing his “good golf” had not been rewarded with wins.
He was in the final group in the fourth round of June’s US Open at Oakmont Country Club, only to shoot a 79 to finish in a tie for 12th.
Scott then missed the cut earlier this month at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
“The Open was disappointing. I just played poorly on Friday (in the second round). I got out of sorts in the wind and couldn’t figure it out,” he said.
“There are a lot of things I can think I’d do different. At the US Open it was disappointing to leave without a result and that’s kind of been how my year’s been – all my good golf has ended up not really getting the results I wanted.
“To be in the mix with nine to go at the US Open, and to be in the mix with nine to go at the PGA Championship, still gives me enough confidence that I’m doing enough of the right things. I just have to iron out a couple of the kinks to get over the line.”
Meanwhile, Scott wasn’t expecting LIV and America’s PGA Tour to merge anytime soon as golf remains divided.
“There have really been no developments since earlier this year, so I would say, don’t hold your breath,” said Scott, a player director on the PGA Tour policy board.
“The guys who have stayed at the PGA Tour have made a choice to play PGA Tour-style golf, and most of them probably would have had the opportunity to play LIV-style golf, so they’ve made their choices, and there’s a divide, obviously.”
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