Shane Lowry is fed up of the conversation surrounding the breakaway LIV Golf series, and admitted that it's a 'worrying time for golf.'
Most of the build-up towards the US Open has been overshadowed by the controversial Saudi Arabia back breakaway tour.
The US Open is run under the banner of the USGA, which ultimately made the decision to allow golfers who played in last week's inaugural LIV event to participate in the major. Those players, who include Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, have been suspended by the PGA Tour for taking part in the LIV event.
Lowry tees off alongside Mickelson, who has been one of the highest profile golfers to jump ship, but the Irishman has already had enough of the talk around the new tour.
"Every player who's not there and not signed up to it has absolutely had it up to here with talking about it," Lowry told Sky Sports.
"It's all anyone talks about, no matter where you go, no matter where you are on the golf course and it’s nice just to get back to your hotel or your house in the evening and get away from it.
"But even at that, you have a few people you end up talking about again.
"It’s not that it’s a worrying time for golf, but I don’t know what way it’s going to go."
Lowry has no desire to join the like of Mickelson and Johnson in jumping to the Liv Series and ruled out making such a move, insisting that he'd much rather win on the PGA Tour, despite the lower prize money.
"For me, I've played on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and that’s what I’m going to do," he said.
"I've been lucky enough to give my family a life I never thought was possible from playing a game of golf. I’m happy with what I’ve got there.
"Who knows who’s going to be the next player to sign up? But I know it’s not going to be me. That’s where I am with the whole thing.
"What Charl won at the weekend, fair play to him, but I would rather win Rory’s tournament.
"You win this tournament this week, you don’t look at your winner’s cheque. You look at that trophy with all those names on it and that’s what golf is about."
