Reports: Xander Schauffele Not Going To LIV

With LIV Golf undergoing massive expansion as of next year, the rumour mill continues to circulate regarding new recruits to the breakaway series.

A report in the Guardian had linked Xander Schauffele with a move to LIV Golf, along with the likes of Patrick Cantlay, Mito Pereira and Thomas Pieters, but it appears rumours of Schauffele's PGA Tour departure were wide of the mark.

Brian Wacker, writer for The New York Post and Golf Monthly contributor, tweeted: "Some LIV Golf news: Xander isn’t going, despite, ahem, ‘report’." Wacker also addressed speculation surrounding LIV Golf's broadcast future, saying a deal with Fox Sports "in some capacity" is imminent.

No Laying Up were in agreement when asked about the 29-year-old's potential switch. They tweeted: "Still the same as we said on the pod on Sunday. Have asked almost every contact we have and have still heard nothing that would make me believe there's anything to the rumors.*

“It's gonna be a long winter of this stuff. Stay vigilant! (*- as always, minds can change)." 

They added: "Before the army jumps all over the disclaimer - this is as of this moment. Decisions have changed in the past and people on the player's team weren't even in the know.

"This *can* happen here, but it be a change of heart that would stun a lot of people close to the situation. What (I think) is driving this one is that [Patrick] Cantlay and Phil [Mickelson] had lunch together last week. And it sounds like Phil is (shockingly) talking a big game after that lunch."

Mickelson has become a staunch advocate of the Greg Norman-fronted series since joining back in June so its perhaps no surprise he is trying to coax players in the direction of LIV, especially as it aims to eclipse the established tours.

Schauffele, winner of seven events on the PGA Tour and the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, certainly looks like he is putting his career before the vast riches of the Saudi-backed series, for the time being anyway.