Matthew Fitzpatrick’s LIV Golf comments say it all as Brit star makes four-word statement

Matthew Fitzpatrick has outlined his no-nonsense stance on golf merger talks, admitting: “I just don’t care.” There are hopes negotiations between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi backers have moved forward at the current Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Key stakeholders like PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – which bankrolls LIV – have been taking part. The pair have been pictured embracing and even sharing a joke.

Despite the friendly public display between Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, Fitzpatrick remains sceptical. The former US Open champion said before the tournament began: "I don't think they are going to decide the future of golf in five hours around Carnoustie. I know Carnoustie is pretty bloody hard. Not much time for talking."

The former US Open champion then outlined his stance on bridging golf's divide, adding: "I think in terms of bringing the game together this week, I'm passed the point of caring. I just don't care.

"Me saying things to the PGA TOUR board, me saying things to the DP World Tour board, it's not going to change, so why am I going to waste my time talking about it?"

A merger does seem to be edging closer though, with Rory McIlroy hinting that a deal could be struck by the end of the year, while acknowledging a split in opinion among players still presents a significant challenge.

When quizzed over whether the rift between factions has healed, Fitzpatrick was sceptical, saying: "Not necessarily. I think there's probably some players in the States, their feelings, I don't think they would be very happy."

Discussing his own stance on the LIV Golf, Fitzpatrick recalled his journey from resistance to indifference. He said: "If I'm probably brutally honest, at the start, I probably was pretty against it and it was not of any interest to me to go and play [in] LIV. But I've always said that I understood why people went. I've got no issues with that. No issues at all.

"My issue was always [that] you've gone over there. I don't feel like it's fair for you to try and come back and play. But I would say I've changed on that now. Again, I just don't care. I just want to focus on myself.

"I think that's what's important, and try and play the best golf I can. I don't want to get 10 years down the road and look back. I'm not going to sit there and think, 'oh, I wish I'd got more involved in that LIV and PGA TOUR'. It's like you're wasting your time."