Shane Lowry prevented PGA Tour strike action over LIV deal: "Right, lads!"

Shane Lowry has revealed he prevented PGA Tours from strike action after Jay Monahan announced the shock deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers.

Ben Smith

14 Jun 2023

Shane Lowry prevented PGA Tour strike action over LIV deal: "Right lads!"

Shane Lowry has revealed he stepped in to stop PGA Tour stars from striking during a heated players' meeting at the Canadian Open, urging the golfers to 'chill' after a shock deal was announced with the backers of LIV Golf.

The golf world is still digesting the proposal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

For the second year in a row at the US Open, off-course drama is dominating the agenda in the run-up to the third major of the year.

GolfMagic already reported just how tense the meeting was at Oakdale Golf & Country Club last week.

Rory McIlroy was told to 'F off' and PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan - who has now stepped away from day-to-day duties owing to a 'medical issue' - was urged to resign.

Monahan's secret deal with the Saudis is now under scrutiny.

| Under fire PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan has stepped away from day-to-day operations after suffering a 'medical issue'. pic.twitter.com/UZcdnuPyMl
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) June 14, 2023

Before stepping away from the limelight for the foreseeable future, Monahan lashed out at the US government.

He accused lawmakers of allowing the PGA Tour to fend for itself in their battle against LIV Golf.

Lowry has confirmed to RTE that players were thinking of strike action. "I just don't know any more," Lowry told the radio station before adding:

"I guess we don't really know what's going on. We have no information, we have no idea what deal the PGA Tour have signed up for so we just don't know.

"I've said this all along, but it’s the only thing you can do as a golfer, is worry about yourself and try to play good golf and the rest will take care of itself.

"I stayed quiet enough last week, I didn't do much media or I didn't do any media because I actually have no answers to any questions because I just don't know."

Shane Lowry prevented PGA Tour strike action over LIV deal:

So did Lowry, 36, step in at the meeting?

"Yeah I did, it was brief. Obviously tensions were a little bit high, they're not really high, but a couple of lads started talking about 'what if we didn't play this week'.

"I was like, 'Right lads, let's take a chill for a minute here'. RBC have been a great sponsor to the tour and are great to us, and they put on two great tournaments, so like that's not going to do anything for anybody doing that.

"Let's just go out and do our jobs which is what we're all here to do, and everything else will take care of itself'".

Lowry also had some words for those - such as McIlroy - who have been in the spotlight for the last two years.

McIlroy said he felt like a 'sacrificial lamb' given he's rallied hard against LIV. "I still hate LIV," the 33-year-old said as he gave his initial thoughts on the PIF-PGA Tour deal.

Lowry continued:

"I do feel for the top, top guys that have been involved in the whole thing.

"I've obviously been there among the pack and I've been involved in a lot of meetings and stuff over the last number of months, but the guys who have to go out and sit in front of the world's media and explain stuff that they don't really know much about, I do feel for them."

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