Matt Fitzpatrick criticises PGA and DP World Tour partnership
Two-time DP World Tour Championship winner says partnership should never have been agreed
Matt Fitzpatrick has criticised the strategic alliance between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, stating that the DP World Tour should have reached an agreement with the Saudis instead.
In recent years, the PGA and DP World Tour partnership has faced significant backlash, with many believing the DP World Tour has been dealt the short end of the stick.
One major complaint is that the top ten players on the Race to Dubai, who aren’t already exempt, now receive PGA Tour cards for the following season. This essentially drains the European circuit of its top talent each year, as they move to America.
There was reportedly a chance for the DP World Tour to avoid this partnership altogether by accepting an offer from Golf Saudi before the launch of the now-controversial LIV Golf League.
While the PGA and DP World Tour are currently in discussions with the Public Investment Fund – the backers of LIV Golf - to resolve issues within the sport, Fitzpatrick believes that if talks break down, the PGA Tour should be left to operate independently, allowing the other organisations to form their own alliances.
“I personally think that should have happened before, I don't think the Tour should have gone with the PGA TOUR,” said Fitzpatrick.
He then vented his frustration at the invites PGA Tour players received to the BMW PGA Championship at the expense of its own members.
“I was pretty livid, to be honest, at Wentworth when I found out that there was a handful of PGA TOUR players coming to play Wentworth, and at that point in time, not every person who kept their card last year got in the field, which I think is a disgrace. That's the Flagship Event.
“There's no invites given to European Tour players at THE PLAYERS Championship. So why are we dishing them out for Wentworth?”
This week has been widely regarded as crucial for advancing discussions between the PIF, the DP World and PGA Tour, with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan playing together at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
While many are hopeful that this signals a positive step towards an agreement, Matt Fitzpatrick remains unconvinced.
"Yeah, I don't think they are going to decide the future of golf in five hours around Carnoustie."
He later added: "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?"