PGA Tour commissioner accused of disrespecting golf legend Jack Nicklaus
Paul Azinger has slated PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan for not keeping the Golden Bear in the loop over the North American's battle with LIV Golf.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan understandably had to keep a lid on the fact he had instructed board member Jimmy Dunne to open a line of communication with LIV Golf's financiers after months of bickering and expensive litigation.
That being said, living golf legend Jack Nicklaus should've been kept in the loop.
At least that's the view of 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, who has given an explosive interview to Golfweek.
Azinger told the publication Monahan had the perfect opportunity to instruct the Golden Bear something significant was going on behind-the-scenes.
Last May before the Memorial at Muirfield Village, Monahan delivered a report on the North American circuit Nicklaus was instrumental in forming.
Also in that meeting were representatives from the four major governing bodies.
Monahan decided not to mention the PGA Tour would soon be announcing a framework agreement with LIV's Saudi backers.
And he also didn't deem it necessary to tell Nicklaus the agreement was hatched in a series of secret meetings across the globe.
A matter of days later, on 6 June, Monahan appeared on national television alongside LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to announce the news.
It shocked the world of professional sport and in truth we are still no closer to finding a solution to end the protracted schism in the men's game.
"He didn't even tell Jack," Azinger blasted.
"Jay gave that report in front of Jack and the heads of the USGA, R&A, PGA, the Masters.
"There's about 15 of us in there and I think understandably, everyone in that room is a little down on Jay.
"He'd been negotiating with PIF for six months. What the heck, why didn't you tell everybody that? Why didn't you just say that?
"That could have been when he let it out but he didn't and he started the battle and then he switched teams in the middle of it and Rory's fallen on the sword for him, you know?"
Azinger did say it was to Monahan's credit that he has 'hung in there' and still remains in his post.
It is largely accepted, though, that Monahan has lost a significant amount of power and the trust of high-profile players.
Tiger Woods joined the policy board two months after the framework agreement announcement.
It wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest the 15-time major champion is the commissioner in waiting.
"His intentions are to do the best for the players but he just didn't handle it right," added Azinger.
For his part Monahan has conceded he handled the situation poorly.
Such was the stress of the PGA Tour-PIF announcement, he had to take a medical leave of absence from his role.
When he returned, he insisted he was the right man for the job.
"I was the best leader before June 6," he told the New York Times last November. "And I was going to be the best leader for the PGA Tour after."
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