Despite interest and rumors on them joining LIV Golf, 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2022 Open Championship runner-up Cameron Young announced that they will remain on the PGA Tour.
At the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Young said that he was “very interested” in joining LIV Golf but ultimately decided to stay. Young told reporters, “Frankly, I have decided to stay. It’s a really difficult situation because it’s not anything that anyone really wanted to happen. I think it wasn’t meant to be this hostile between the two.”
Young elaborated on his decision to stay. While admitting that LIV Golf gave him a “significant offer” to leave the PGA Tour, the inherent risk of missing out on the Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, or winning major tournaments helped sway his decision to stay.
“Frankly, throughout the whole process with them I was very interested,” Young said. “I think they have a bunch of good ideas. I think they’re doing some cool stuff, and with some of those changes coming, that’s what really helped me decide to stay and pursue those goals that I have for myself, like making the Presidents Cup team or Ryder Cup team and winning a major, when all of that is just uncertain if you go.”
Matsuyama is also staying with the PGA Tour, according to Associated Press golf writer Doug Ferguson. Ferguson revealed that not only did Matsuyama confirm he was staying but that it was “the word for the last week or so.”
This news comes on the heels of a players-only meeting held nearly a week-and-a-half ago. The meeting, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, brainstormed ideas to keep golfers from defecting to the Saudi-led tour. One of those ideas was a “tech-infused” golf league that will be held on Monday nights.
Keeping Young and Matsuyama is massive for the PGA Tour. Matsuyama is currently 16th in the World Golf Ranking while Young is 17th. Matsuyama is a Masters champion and won the Sony Open this year while Young is expected to win Rookie of the Year for finishing in the top three of two majors.