BROOKLINE, Mass. — The armchair analysts’ canon holds that the less intellectually inquisitive a player, the more successful he will be, that incuriosity (or, less generously, obtuseness) limits potential distractions. Dustin Johnson is often presented as exhibit ‘A’ for this specious argument, but there are ample examples of elite golfers who disprove the theory. One of them was atop the leaderboard after his first round at the 122nd U.S. Open.
For more than two years, and particularly in the last few weeks, Rory McIlroy has been anointed the conscience of the PGA Tour, a player who is both thoughtful in his reasoning and eloquent in his rejection when it comes to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series. Other prominent players have stood with him in that—Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Will Zalatoris, to name but three—but it’s McIlroy who has largely become the apostolic leader of the resistance.
The incessant noise around LIV Golf—the sole topic of discussion at The Country Club this week, and every other week on Tour—has proven a distraction for many of those who have recently consummated their relationship with the Saudis, or who are still furtively flirting in the shadows. Dustin Johnson hasn’t been in contention (outside the Bonesaw circuit) since winning the Masters 19 months ago. Louis Oosthuizen has been in the doldrums since last summer, and will soon return to St. Andrews to mark 12 years since the only occasion on which he beat an elite field. Bryson DeChambeau is battling a balky body and balkier form. Those realities might not be unrelated to why the Saudi cash-out has appeal, of course.
