Matt Fitzpatrick admits he is as confused as anyone about the direction golf is heading in but insists it will not affect his thinking when he begins the defence of his US Open title. The dust is still settling a week on from the shock announcement of the commercial merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has been the backer of the breakaway LIV Golf. On the face of it, golf's bitter civil war appears to be over but under the surface there are many so-far unanswered questions and residual feelings of resentment by a large section of the two main tours' membership at how they have been treated in the whole saga. But although several days have passed since PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan went on live network television in the United States with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan to announce the surprise deal there are very few details about how things will work, and that has led to dissent among the rank and file. "I guess the whole thing is confusing. It was confusing last year," said Fitzpatrick, who swerved a question about whether those players who remained loyal to the established tours should be suitably compensated for missing out on LIV's millions. "I don't think anyone knows what's going on. Are we signing with the PIF? Are we not signing with the PIF? I have no idea. "Even though I guess it is confusing, it's pretty clear that nobody knows what's going on apart from about four people in the world." That will not cloud his thought process when it comes to mounting a defence of his breakthrough major title from Brookline 12 months ago. "No, I think it's over-rated," the Englishman said. "You're not going to be stood on the first tee thinking 'Oh what's going on in the golf world?'. "You're thinking, 'It's a par four, where do I need to hit it? Where is the wind?' That's all you're thinking about." Fitzpatrick will have plenty of things to think about at the Los Angeles Country Club, which he last saw in February on a reconnaissance mission. That differs from Brookline, a course on which nine years earlier he had won the US Amateur. Fitzpatrick admits finally getting a win over the line in a major has done wonders for his self-belief, even if a back problem has restricted him this season. A year ago he rose to the occasion coming down the stretch, memorably hit a brilliant approach from a fairway bunker to 20 feet to save par and secure a one-shot victory over Will Zalatoris, who missed a birdie putt to force a play-off. "It's obviously been a huge boost," the 28-year-old said. "Maybe previously I've almost felt like I played well and not necessarily competed in majors, whereas now I feel like it's kind of the opposite." Fitzpatrick will kick off his title defence on Thursday afternoon in the company of Australia's reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith and American Sam Bennett. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is the tournament favourite ahead of Masters champion Jon Rahm and the resurgent Brooks Koepka, who followed up his runner-up showing at Augusta National with a third PGA Championship victory last month in New York. Smith spearheads a seven-strong Australian challenge also including Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert and 21-year-old amateur qualifier Karl Vilips. Australian Associated Press
