Golf fans react to awkward clip of PGA Tour boss: "Didn't like that"

PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan was loudly jeered as he stood on the 18th green to congratulate Viktor Hovland after the Norwegian won the Tur Championship.

Ben Smith

29 Aug 2023

Golf fans react to awkward clip of PGA Tour boss: "Didn't like that"

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was loudly jeered by spectators who stayed to watch Viktor Hovland crowned as the FedEx Cup champion.

Hovland tore round East Lake for four days and emerged with a five-stroke victory over American Xander Schauffele.

In the immediate aftermath of his victory Monahan was on the 18th green to warmly congratulate the 25-year-old Norwegian.

Before he could pay tribute to Hovland, there were audible jeers from the crowd.

Watch the clip here:

Jay Monahan getting loud boos from the fans as he tries to present the FedEx Cup, then thanks those said fans pic.twitter.com/FWj0WiYN3b
— Anthony Lepine (@albert_octavius) August 27, 2023

Why was Monahan getting boos?

Monahan announced on 6 June the PGA Tour had entered into a 'framework agreement' with the backers of LIV Golf, the Saudi PIF.

Over the last 12 months Monahan has implored the game's biggest stars not to leave the established tour.

He was accused of trying to emotionally blackmail golfers when he asked if they ever had to apologise for being PGA Tour members in an obvious nod towards Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record.

Phil Mickelson has also claimed the PGA Tour hired a PR firm to spread anti-Saudi sentiment and smear LIV golfers.

Shortly after the vague framework agreement was announced, some players have called for Monahan to resign.

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He then left his day-to-day duties after suffering from anxiety and mental health issues in light of the about-face, tour management policy.

In the interim he skipped a US Senate hearing after lawmakers announced a probe into the PGA Tour-PIF deal.

He has vowed that if called he would testify in the future.

Monahan has appeared to try and appease the game's biggest stars by not backing proposals by the R&A and USGA to bifurcate golf's rules.

Tiger Woods has also joined the PGA Tour's policy board, giving the players more power.

Here's how some golf fans reacted to the clip:

"Most incompetent commissioner in the history of American sports."

"I think they were booing that sport coat."

"Sacrificial lamb. He'll be made to do the dirty work, then be removed during the transition."