Presidents Cup overshadowed by prospect of PGA v LIV Royal Rumble

CHARLOTTE, N.C. : The Presidents Cup is unlikely to be on any list of great sporting rivalries, but as the U.S. and an International team prepared on Tuesday for their Quail Hollow showdown there was whimsical talk of what could be golf's ultimate duel - the PGA Tour v LIV Golf.

Rivalries are part of the foundation of sport and any rivalry worthy of attention requires a bit of bad blood, something that is not in short supply when it comes to the bitter feud between the PGA Tour and rebel LIV Golf Series.

Those who have signed on with the big-spending Saudi-backed venture have been labelled sellouts for attaching themselves to a circuit that critics say amounts to "sportswashing" by a nation trying to improve its reputation in the face of criticism over its human rights record.

The battle lines have been drawn and the idea of the two Tours settling their differences on the golf course is a spicy and intriguing one.

Asked on Tuesday if there ever were a PGA Tour v LIV Golf showdown would he play in it, Sam Burns did not hesitate.

"Yes," said Burns.

Asked why and Burns' loyalty was clear.

"Because I love the PGA Tour, and if they asked me to be on that team, I would be on it," declared Burns.

When the LIV exodus started, players sticking with the PGA Tour offered a conciliatory tone, most saying everyone is free to make their own choice.

As LIV Golf poached more players and launched legal challenges to allow their golfers to compete on both Tours, that tone has hardened.

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, one of the fiercest critics of LIV Golf said earlier this month that it would be "hard to stomach" playing alongside them at the DP Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

Billy Horschel labelled players from LIV Golf