The announcement last year of a framework deal between the Saudi PIF and PGA TOUR rocked the professional golfing world as the top players gathered in Toronto for the RBC Canadian Open.
The news broke on CNBC, with commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan - rivals on either side of the professional golf landscape - seated beside one another as they announced the agreement.
One would think that would have stopped the battle between the two leagues, but there remains little progress a year later as the TOUR once again tees off in Canada.
You can count Canadian standout Mackenzie Hughes among those expecting something closer to a resolution, as the 33-year-old voiced his concern once again on Wednesday.
"A year later you would have thought we had a bit more clarity on that," Hughes said to a group of reporters at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. "I think one of the biggest things I think about is the fan and how the fan has been affected by all this. The fans are just tired of hearing about it, tired of hearing about the money. I don't think the money that's going around is sustainable for golf."
In response to the vast sums of money LIV Golf was splashing to attract top players, the PGA TOUR created a series of limited-field signature events that each came with a $20-million purse. The amount of cash being thrown at professional golfers has become the major talking point in golf - something with which Hughes has grown frustrated.
"People don't want to hear it," Hughes said. "I've said this to, you know, the media, the TOUR, I mean ... I feel like we're shoving it down people's throats. This is a big tournament for me, you know. I would say far bigger than the one next week, but next week is worth $20 million. This one's worth, I don't know how many, whatever, but that's not something that I care or think about. But I'm here to win this trophy. It wouldn't matter if it was for a thousand bucks, a million bucks."
Hughes wasn't the only one to speak on the matter, as Rory McIlroy also weighed in from Canada. McIlroy was arguably the most outspoken player on TOUR against LIV Golf but was also blindsided by the framework agreement.
He argued once again on Wednesday that the professional game needs to remain united and bring the best players in the world together more often.
"My whole thing is I'm just disappointed to what it's done to, not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine, but men's professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute," McIlroy said. "Hopefully, we're on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together. But, yeah, I mean, in hindsight - hindsight's always 20/20 - but in hindsight I wish I hadn't have gotten as deeply involved as I have."
It's fitting that Hughes made the comments at an event sponsored by RBC, as the bank has been one of the strongest supporters of the PGA TOUR in recent years. However, even that organization seems to have grown weary of the unrest in the men's professional game. Their sponsorship of both the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town and the Canadian Open expire this season with a new deal yet to be announced.
