Scottie Scheffler shuts down reporter's LIV Golf question after frustrating Doral round

Scottie Scheffler refused to be drawn on the future of LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour after a frustrating opening round at the Cadillac Championship.

The world number one carded a one-under 71 at Trump National Doral on Thursday, leaving him seven shots behind early leader Cameron Young, who surged to a course-record eight-under 64.

Scheffler, 29, made a fast start with three birdies on the first five holes, but soon lost momentum around the turn with bogeys on 10 and 11. 

He made pars to the house, but that saw him lose pace fast with his playing partner Young, who surged to the top of the leaderboard with a flawless round containing eight birdies. 

“I felt like I could have holed a few more putts and found a couple more fairways,” Scheffler said after the round. 

“I felt like when I got a touch off. I wasn't able to get it back and didn't really steal any shots today. 

“It was kind of more just like shot a bit higher than I felt I should have.”

Scheffler’s statistics reflected his frustration, ranking 44th in strokes-gained putting (-0.468) and 37th in driving accuracy after hitting seven of 14 fairways.

Young, who won the Players Championship in March, sits pretty at the top of the board after day one on eight-under par.

The round of 64 marks the lowest of his season, and also the lowest first round of his PGA Tour career.

"It was just a really good day," said world number four Young.

"I played nicely but it was one of those days where the scoring was just on my side." 

Young holds a narrow one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley after the first day's play on Donald Trump's Blue Monster.

Scheffler, a 20-time PGA Tour winner, sits just inside the top 30 in the 72-man field and will again play alongside his Ryder Cup teammate Young in Friday’s afternoon wave at 2.05pm local time. 

“I just overall hope to be a little sharper tomorrow,” said Scheffler.

The four-time major champion was then asked for his thoughts on LIV Golf.

And that did not go down particularly well...

Following confirmation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will withdraw funding from LIV Golf after the 2026 season, Scheffler was asked whether he would support a pathway for LIV players to return to the PGA Tour, just as has been done recently for both Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed. 

Fresh off the course, Scheffler declined to engage with any comment on the subject. 

“I just got off the golf course,” said Scheffler.

“I don't know what you want from me,” he added, as he stifled a laugh before walking towards the locker room. 

Watch Scheffler's response here:

The PIF announced earlier in the day it would step back from funding the breakaway league beyond next season, ending an estimated $5 billion investment since 2022.

“The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF's investment strategy,” read the PIF's statement on cutting ties with LIV Golf past the 2026 season. 

“This decision has been made in light of PIF's investment priorities and current macro dynamics. The LIV Golf Board has created a committee of independent directors to evaluate strategic alternatives for its future beyond PIF's funding horizon.

“LIV Golf has substantially grown the game globally through its transformational and positive impact. It has forever changed the game of golf for the better.

“PIF remains committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, including its substantial current and future investments in various sports as a priority sector.”

The announcement leaves LIV Golf facing an uncertain future, with questions now surrounding the long-term outlook for the league and its players.

GolfMagic understands from a source with knowledge of the business operations at LIV that players and staff have known for the past two weeks that the PIF was parting ways with the league after this season. 

The 2026 LIV Golf League season is scheduled to conclude on 30 August, but much will depend if their Louisiana tournament takes place in the fall.

That event was earlier this week postponed, with LIV citing peak summer heat and a congested global sports schedule as reasons to push back. 

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley claims news of PIF's exit comes as no surprise.

"It was never going to pay its way and so that's why I'm not really surprised," McGinley told Off The Ball.

"What has surprised me is how long it's lasted, but then on the other side, the players win here.

"The players on LIV have won, obviously they got paid huge amount of money. The players who have remained on the Tours have earned a huge amount of extra money. But it's left the game, in my view, in a very difficult and potentially unsustainable place."

What do you make of all things LIV Golf vs PGA Tour right now? 

Do you want to the see likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann and others back on the PGA Tour?

Share your thoughts below or come and join the debate on our social media channels - @GolfMagic