English star Matt Fitzpatrick has better things to focus on this weekend than golf’s acrimonious split.
PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf bosses are hoping to build bridges at the home of golf’s most iconic bridge this week.
Fitzpatrick and his mom Sue won the Links last yearGetty
Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka are among the stars representing both sides of the divide at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.
But Fitzpatrick was too busy hitting the pub with his mom Sue to care.
The 30-year-old Brit and his mother won both the individual and team events last year thanks to a combined score of 35-under in the pro-am format.
To celebrate, they headed to the town’s iconic Dunvegan watering hole to hang a picture commemorating their triumph.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi PIF governor and LIV Golf boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings are all coming together for peace talks this week.
They are hoping to work on the Framework Agreement to allow the tours to work together better in future.
“Yeah, I don’t think they are going to decide the future of golf in five hours around Carnoustie,” said Fitzpatrick.
“I know Carnoustie is pretty bloody hard. Not much time for talking.
“Johann Rupert does an amazing job for the Tour every year, having this tournament, the money he’s put into the game.
“I think all the players are very grateful for what he’s done for this tournament and for golf in general. I know he does a lot for golf in South Africa, so obviously that’s brilliant.
Fitzpatrick pops in to the local at St Andrew’s@DPWorldTour X
The stunning course is known as the Home of Golf
“I think in terms of bringing the game together this week, I’m past 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?”
Fitzpatrick also admitted that his views on LIV had mellowed.
“If I’m brutally honest, at the start, I probably was pretty against, and it was not of any interest to me to go and play LIV,” he said.
“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, at the start, that you’ve gone over there.
“I don’t feel like it’s fair for you to try and come back and play as well. But I would say I’ve changed on that now.
LIV star Koepka is ready to brave the elements
“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.’
“You’re wasting your time.”
Fitzpatrick and Sue are looking to add another trophy picture to the pub wall – and family scrapbook – as they compete again this year.
