Jordan Spieth slams (!) media over PGA Tour/LIV Golf 'false narrative'

Jordan Spieth says players on the PGA Tour are not calling the shots after a key figure resigned from the board over LIV Golf peace talks.

Ben Smith

14 May 2024

Jordan Spieth took issue with media's coverage of the PGA Tour player directors' approach to LIV Golf peace talks on the eve of the PGA Championship.

Spieth spoke to reporters on 14 May ahead of the second men's major of the year shortly after Tiger Woods refused to say whether he wanted the Tour to strike a deal with the Saudi PIF.

The three-time major champion, unsurprisingly, echoed the thoughts of the hall of famer by insisting talks were heading in a positive direction.

He even went as far as saying he finds himself 'chuckling' at media reports that the general narrative depicted is one of complete chaos and disarray.

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And despite what has been reported about Spieth's fellow player director Patrick Cantlay, the 30-year-old stressed the golfers are not calling the shots.

"It's not player driven," Spieth said. "You guys have got to stop saying that. Like, it's not the case."

His comments come 24 hours after Jimmy Dunne - one of the prime architects of the 6 June framework agreement - resigned from his post.

Dunne said 'little progress' had been made with LIV Golf's financiers to strike a deal and his voice was 'superfluous' given the player directors occupy the majority of board seats.

"If you're in the room, it's very obvious that players are not dictating the future of golf and the PGA Tour," Spieth said.

Spieth pointed to the influence of the strategic advisors that know 'a heck of a lot more than any of us players'.

"That's a false narrative that the players are determining all of these things," he added.

Spieth said he feels everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Of Dunne's departure, Spieth said it was 'a loss'. Woods said he was 'surprised' by the resignation.

Tiger Woods speaks to reporters before the 2024 US PGA

"I've spoken with him just he and I quite a few times over the last few months and had really good conversations," Spieth said.

"And when he explains kind of how everything went about since he came on the other.

"I mean, there's a lot of other things going on as well, but in general everyone on our side, I believe, are rowing the boat the right direction together, the same direction together, and I believe we're going to end up in a really good place."

He added: "I just continue to kind of chuckle, because I only feel positive momentum when we're actually having these internal conversations, and then every time anything comes from the outside world it's the opposite, and it just kind of makes me chuckle a bit because it's a bit frustrating."

Spieth said he hopes the fans believe the PGA Tour are trying to do right thing but pleaded for time to figure out the future.

The golfer said that although things are 'put in a really bad light', negotiations are ramping up.

He did hint that perhaps LIV/PIF officials are perhaps being difficult.

"I think things are moving forward at a speed that both sides are probably frustrated at each other one different times when they're trying to get a hold of each other," he said.

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