PGA Tour boss hesitates when asked if players really support him

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan gave a cryptic answer when asked whether there had been calls for him to resign.

13 Mar 2024

Jay Monahan cut an awkward figure when questioned about whether or not he had the full backing of the PGA Tour policy board.

Monahan, 53, addressed the media yesterday ahead of the 50th anniversary Players Championship and inevitably faced a barrage of questions relating to negotiations between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour commissioner was very much under the microscope but, overall, did a good enough job of keeping his cards close to his chest.

One question, however, did appear to give him some issues, and it's fair to say he revealed more by what he didn't say than by what he did.

Monahan has been under a great deal of pressure since Greg Norman's controversial LIV Golf burst onto the scene in 2022, and he has faced scrutiny from a number of key figures in the golf world.

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Most recently, Paul Azinger criticised his handling of the announcement of a potential merger between the PIF and PGA Tour.

After fielding questions on that specific matter, one journalist decided to dig a little deeper into what's going on behind the scenes, asking Monahan if there had been any calls for his resignation from within the PGA Tour's player advisory board.

Monahan gave a somewhat cryptic answer to the question.

He said:

"You know, there's been a lot of good spirited debate amongst our board. I don't think that would be a surprise to anybody, you know, given the events of last summer. But we are a unified front. Our policy board continues to perform and function at a very high level with great support of our player directors, and the formation of PGA Tour Enterprises, with a new board, a new board comprised of four members of SSG, seven players, or six player directors and Joe Ogilvie, who is a liaison director, myself and Jo Gorder, who is the independent director serving on that board."

Following up on his question, the journalist continued to probe, asking Monahan if he believed he had the full backing of the players and whether or not he believes he is the right man to do his job.

Monahan responded by saying:

"You know, that's a question that you'll have to ask for players. I can't generalise 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. I know that. I believe that in my heart, and I'm determined to do exactly that."

While Monahan's remarks are by no means a smoking gun, his reluctance to flat-out deny that there had been calls for his resignation suggests there could have certainly been pressure put on him by members of the policy board.

The board is made up of current PGA Tour players, including Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods.

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