Welcome back to SI Golf’s Fact or Fiction, where we look forward to seeing the women on the Old Course this week.

We are here to discuss a range of statements that writers and editors can declare as “fact” or “fiction” and briefly explain. The answers can also (occasionally) be “neutral” as there are many grey areas in golf.

Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X Account.

Scottie Scheffler called the FedEx Cup playoffs “silly” because a season-long race boils down to a tournament. The only way the playoffs this year can be credible is if Scheffler or Xander Schauffele win.

Bob Harig: FICTION. It’s important to understand the system. In fact, the entire season’s points race ended after the Wyndham Championship. That was when the regular season ended and most events (aside from signature events and bumps to the majors) were played with a similar number of points available. All of that was thrown out the window when the playoffs began. Hideki Matsuyama got more points (2,000) for winning the FedEx St. Jude than Schauffele got for winning two major championships (1,400). The idea is to create volatility, whether you like it or not. Maybe it should be called something else. But the powers that be get what they want.

John Pluym: FACT. Scheffler has won six times on tour this season, including victories at the Players and the Masters, while Schauffele won the PGA Championship and the British Open. I’m on Scheffler’s side here. The playoffs are “silly.” Scheffler has been the most consistent player on tour this season, which is why he has those six wins (seven if you count his Olympic gold). He should be the player of the year regardless of what happens in the playoffs. Although a perfect season doesn’t mean much if you don’t cap it off with a win in the last game or tournament. Just ask the New England Patriots.

Jeff Ritter: FACT. Scheffler is right. After one of the most dominant seasons in recent history, will Scheffler’s reward be… a two-shot lead at the start of the first round at East Lake? I’m not sure what the solution is, but the playoffs seem a little contrived and could use a reboot – perhaps it’s an opportunity to bring LIV golfers into the game as part of the new profit-driven product these parties are working on.

John Schwarb: FICTION. Hideki Matsuyama has one playoff win under his belt, if he gets two more I can live with him getting the FedEx Cup since he has won this season and was eighth in points when the playoffs started. But that’s the only acceptable ending if Scottie or Xander don’t win.

Jon Rahm finished first and second in his last two LIV Golf starts, winning in Great Britain and losing in a playoff at the Greenbrier to Brooks Koepka. He has found his mojo again and will win his third major next year.

Bob Harig: FICTION. He could, but I would say that even if he hadn’t been on such a winning streak recently. It’s still a long way until April. There’s no guarantee that Scheffler or Schauffele will win majors next year either.

John Pluym: FICTION. Rahm is just way too inconsistent and I attribute that to LIV Golf. He was a much better player on the PGA Tour and played four rounds instead of three on some of the best courses in the world. And Scheffler will win at least two majors next year. I love predictions.

Jeff Ritter: FICTION. It’s nice to see Rahm getting back into form this summer, but as things stand, it’s hard to call him a favorite for next year’s majors. Scheffler and Schauffele have really pulled away at the moment.

John Schwarb: NEUTRAL. I’m not ready to give Rahm one of the major awards of 2025, but he seems to have come out of his months-long slump and I imagine a Ryder Cup year will bring out his best form.

Bob Harig revealed a little Easter egg in his column “Teed Up” this week: LIV Golf is approaching a 2025 schedule that could include nine international events and just five in the U.S. That’s the right mix for the league right now.

Bob Harig: FICTION. While it’s understandable to go into underserved markets, there are plenty of them in the United States, too. Focusing on those – rather than a place like Dallas, where professional golf already exists – makes sense. Then you wouldn’t be competing against the best events on tour. If you’re trying to simply attract golf fans, Sunday was a tough call with multiple events going on at once. And both were good. Still, LIV has been successful in bringing star players to places like Adelaide and Singapore. It only makes sense to find other international markets.

John Pluym: FACT. It makes sense that LIV has a busy international schedule. It’s a great way to expand the reach of golf. Until they find a way to make team golf more interesting, I’m not interested in having any more events in the U.S. unless it’s LIV players competing against PGA Tour players.

Jeff Ritter: FACT. LIV should aim to go where others are not. An international focus makes sense.

John Schwarb: FACT. If you look at PGA Tour schedule next year and the usual weekly grind, I wonder if LIV could benefit from a little scarcity here. At the very least, it is very smart to target some golf-hungry markets like my Indianapolis, as well as South Korea and Japan.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in Memphis that negotiations with LIV Golf are “at a good stage,” but added that the rivals will continue to operate separately in 2025. They are no closer to a deal today than they will be on June 6, 2023.

Bob Harig: FICTIONUnless this is all just a big game, they are much further along than they were when the framework agreement was drafted. The fact that they are acting separately in 2025 should not be seen as a setback. It was already clear six months ago that nothing would change for next year. Even if they had reached an agreement on June 1, it is difficult to imagine how anything new or different could have been implemented for 2025. It just seems that it is not easy to reach a common line.

John Pluym: FICTION. They may be further along, but how many years will it take to get a deal done? I know there are some PGA Tour players involved, but are they really motivated to get a deal done? I just don’t see it at this point. And I don’t think we’ll have a deal in 2025. We may never get a deal.

Jeff Ritter: FICTIONWell, we know there are a few PGA Tour players involved now, and the sides have apparently been talking more since June 6th… so they can’t really further of a deal, right? Regardless, it is a little disheartening to learn that this disjointed world of men’s golf will continue uninterrupted for at least another full season.

John Schwarb: FACT. I am no longer surprised that there is no progress in standardizing professional sport. I am surprised that next year’s tour schedule is virtually identical to that for 2024 – how long do we have to wait for the innovation and creativity that all that SSG money was supposed to fund?