World No. 39 calls in sick to PGA Tour. Is LIV Golf his subsequent cease?

Adrian Meronk referred to as in sick. At about 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, he posted the information to his Instagram story, together with what seemed to be an image of his knowledge from Whoop, a health tracker. 

Round that point, his place of business additionally confirmed that he wouldn’t be coming in.

“Adrian Meronk WD earlier than the primary spherical of the Farmers Insurance coverage Open,” tweeted the communications division of the PGA Tour. “Erik Barnes is now in.”

After which got here the hypothesis. 

Adopted by the studies. 

Meronk could also be out. He could also be off to LIV Golf. 

He will not be alone, both. 

As first reported by the Instances’ Tom Kershaw and later reported by Sports activities Illustrated’s Bob Harig, Meronk will be part of LIV forward of the Saudi-backed league’s season-opener subsequent week — that means he’ll seemingly be suspended from the PGA Tour, with out by no means having performed a spherical as an official Tour member. The 30-year-old who grew up in Poland obtained his Tour card final yr after ending within the high 10 within the season-long factors race on the DP World Tour.  

It was there the place Meronk received thrice final season, and, whereas he was left off the European Ryder Cup workforce, he was voted by his friends because the DP World Tour’s participant of the yr. Final week, he completed second on the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Traditional, and on Monday, he moved to a personal-best thirty ninth within the world golf rankings. 

Then, in response to Golf Digest’s Evin Priest, Meronk flew out of Dubai, checked right into a resort — and withdrew from the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance coverage Open forward of Wednesday’s first spherical. Kershaw reported that Meronk’s agent wouldn’t remark, whereas Meronk posted the Whoop image to his Instagram story, together with a publish that learn: “Sadly I’ve to withdraw from @farmersinsopen resulting from sickness.”

However later Wednesday, Kershaw and Harig then reported that Meronk would be part of LIV, as part of the Martin Kaymer-captained Cleeks workforce. 

Notably, although, there are further spots open on LIV, together with on the potential workforce guided by Jon Rahm, who shocked the golf world early final month and left the PGA Tour. And in response to each Kershaw and Harig, LIV could also be making a run at a participant who simply final week supplied a pledge — although it sounded lukewarm — to remain on the PGA Tour: 

World No. 16 Tyrrell Hatton. 

Hatton memorably teamed with Rahm twice final yr as a part of the successful European Ryder Cup squad, and his identify has surfaced with reference to becoming a member of the Spaniard with LIV. Final week, although, with the Scotsman’s Martin Dempster, Hatton had this change:

“I’d say there’s a number of individuals who have had conversations,” Hatton stated of LIV talks. “I believe that’s half and parcel of golf in the meanwhile, however I’m fairly comfortable enjoying the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.”

Has he had these conversations? 

“I’ve simply stated that,” Hatton informed Dempster. “There’s lots of people who’ve and I don’t suppose there may be something to draw back from.” 

However is he staying put? 

“As of proper now, yeah,” Hatton informed Dempster.

Hatton additionally performed in Dubai final week, tying for thirty first, however he’s not within the area for the Farmers Insurance coverage Open. On Wednesday, officers on the PGA Tour’s Waste Administration Open stated that Hatton had dedicated to that occasion, to be performed in two weeks. 

In fact, all of this goes down because the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Funding Fund — LIV Golf’s backer — proceed to barter a funding deal. Now, the Meronk and Hatton studies not less than increase some questions, primarily: 

— Does this point out in any respect the place the negotiations are headed?

— Does this imply in any respect that LIV Golf shall be round for some time?

For now, we all know this:

— The Farmers Insurance coverage Open’s second spherical begins Thursday. Meronk received’t be there. 

— LIV’s season opener begins subsequent Friday in Mexico. Until he’s nonetheless sick, Meronk will reportedly be there. Hatton is perhaps too. 

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his position, he’s liable for modifying, writing and growing tales throughout the golf area. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be enjoying the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and brief, and consuming a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You may attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his sport or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.