PGA Tour's Monahan says talks 'accelerating' with Saudis

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jay Monahan needs a throat lozenge.

Before the commissioner of the PGA Tour even began his hour-long press conference at The Players Championship, you could tell he had been in the trenches for the last while — his voice hoarse and tired.

To his credit, Monahan answered questions from assembled media for a full 60 minutes. Some answers were short (and testy), while some were long (and not really answers at all).

And there was even a shoutout to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With so much happening in the world of professional men’s golf, there was plenty to discuss for the biggest executive in the game.

Here are five takeaways from Monahan’s media availability on Tuesday at TPC Sawgrass:

NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING WITH PIF

At the 12-minute mark of his opening remarks, Monahan addressed the back-and-forth with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. The framework agreement was signed June 6, 2023, (Tuesday of RBC Canadian Open week) and he said he flew to Saudi Arabia in January with principal members of the Strategic Sports Group — which had recently invested $1.5 billion in a new for-profit entity called PGA Tour Enterprises, of which Monahan is the CEO — to meet with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF.

“Our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together,” Monahan said. “While we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf's worldwide potential.

“It's going to take time, but I reiterate what I said at the Tour Championship in August: I see a positive outcome for the PGA Tour and the sport as a whole.”

FAN FOCUS

One thing that’s been long brought up on social media is that the fans of golf are getting the short end of the stick with the continued back-and-forth between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Conversations are merely about money. The golfing world is fractured.

Monahan said he’s heard all that, and they’re going to do their best with the new investment monies to bring it back to the fans.

“I want to speak directly to our fans, our most important constituent, and ones that maybe haven't felt their voices heard lately,” Monahan said. “All of this talk about investment and growth, I want you to know that we're focusing that energy on bringing forth the most competitive and entertaining tour possible for you. It's my commitment and it's our players' commitment.

“This is a transformational time for the sport we all love, and we're excited it take the lead.”

The investment from SSG, Monahan said, is intended to allow for an investment in new technologies, new data and new ways to present the sport (a better entertainment product on TV, essentially) that would have the objective of growing the value of the tour’s media rights.

WOULD HE RESIGN?

Speaking of leadership, Monahan was asked directly if he had been called to resign by anyone over the last nine months. Monahan did not answer the question directly, merely saying there had been a lot of “good, spirited debate,” especially given what happened the week of the RBC Canadian Open, when the framework agreement with the PIF was announced without player involvement. For now, at least, Monahan remains the leader of the PGA Tour and the new PGA Tour Enterprises.

“I can't generalize as it relates to players, but clearly given the responsibility I've been given by both boards, I have the support of our board, and I am the right person to lead us forward,” Monahan said.

Xander Schauffele, the first player to address the media after Monahan’s press conference, was blunt in his assessment of the commissioner’s recent performance.

“Trust is something that's pretty tender, so words are words, and I would say in my book he's got a long way to go,” Schauffele, ranked No. 6 in the world, said. “He could be the guy, but in my book, he's got a long way to go to gain the trust of the membership.”

PATH BACK FOR LIV GOLFERS

Anthony Kim returned to pro golf a few weeks ago as a member of LIV, ending a 12-year timeframe when he was on the sidelines from the PGA Tour. Monahan said members of his team spoke with Kim about “competing” to return to the PGA Tour, but, of course, Kim went in a different direction. When pressed about sponsor invites that could have been available to him, Monahan cut the conversation short.

“He’s not a member of the PGA Tour, so I don’t have anything further to add,” he said.

The biggest get for LIV earlier this year was when Jon Rahm made the leap to the rival circuit. Monahan would not mention him by name and said instead he was focused on “every single member” of the PGA Tour and the opportunities that exist to invest back into the players and the fans.

He would not answer if he was worried more players would move to LIV while the negotiations with PIF were ongoing.

“I just answered your question about what my focus is,” Monahan tersely replied to a follow-up.

There was, however, no direct reply about if there was an opportunity in the future for LIV golfers to once again play on the PGA Tour. Instead, Monahan reverted back to his point about the ongoing negotiations happening behind the scenes with PIF.

“I do know everyone is curious about the status of our negotiations with the PIF. As I’ve said on a number of occasions, you can’t negotiate a deal like this in public,” Monahan said.

He did tip his hand to say that “team golf” was something they were talking about more.

WHAT HE COULD DO DIFFERENT

The bombshell announcement during RBC Canadian Open week, and the way it was handled, was something Monahan admitted, again, could have done better.

“I’ve taken full responsibility and accountability for that,” he said. “That’s on me.

“We're just trying to get better every single day, and I feel like as an organization we have come a long way in the last several months, and I expect next time I'm in front of all of you we'll have a lot more progress to report.”

BONUS: WHY DID THE MAPLE LEAFS GET MENTIONED?

Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour commissioner, was tapped in January to become the next president and CEO of MLSE.

Monahan said that gig made total sense, given Pelley’s style choices.  

“Keith is a peer, he's a partner, he's a friend, and I think it should come as a surprise to nobody that he's joined the Toronto Maple Leafs, given the fact that he's been wearing those blue glasses for the last nine years,” Monahan said.