Viktor Hovland surprised Jay Monahan will remain PGA Tour commissioner until 2026

Viktor Hovland says he's not sure how normal it is that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will stay in his role for the next 18 months despite announcing his departure.

Monahan confirmed before the Travelers Championship he will be leaving his position at the conclusion of the 2026 campaign. 

The 55-year-old, who has been at the top job for the past nine years, will be replaced by former NFL executive Brian Rolapp. 

It is understood that Monahan will gradually hand over his day-to-day responsibilities to the new chief executive.

Some reports have suggested Monahan's role is already ceremonial, with the new chief executive wielding power.

"I'm not super surprised that someone is going to take over for Jay," Hovland told The Shotgun Start's Brendan Porath. 

"He's been in that role for a while and obviously after all the tribulations that's been going on the last couple of years with LIV and the PGA Tour, it's been pretty hectic.

"I don't know how normal it is to announce that you're leaving and still work for another 18 months but yeah, we're just going to roll with it I guess."

Hovland has been critical of commissioner Monahan throughout the PGA Tour's schism with the PIF-backed breakaway. 

The Norwegian golfer, 27, went after Monahan before the 2024 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Chief of his complaints, unsurprisingly, was the 6 June 2023 framework agreement that was made behind the players' backs. 

Hovland said he accepted Monahan's mistake, but felt like the commissioner did not fully explain how he was going to rectify it and instead attempted to 'sweep it under the rug'. 

So what does he want to see from Rolapp and the Tour going forward?

"I think everything can get better for sure," Hovland added. "Especially the messaging the last couple of years, certainly in the face of the LIV tour emerging [I] don't really think the PGA Tour went with the best strategy. 

"I think the Tour certainly had leverage in terms of historical events and tradition and I think they should have honed in a little bit more on that.

"Just playing the money game and the finances it's a tough one to compete against the Saudis.

"I think we really should just hone in on tradition. [We are back at] The Travelers [this week] and it's a great event. It's really cool to come back to a places where you know past champions [have won] and you've seen shots coming down the stretch.

"That's what makes the PGA Tour and why people tune in to watch and you see storylines from the best players in the world winning again or defending a win or something like that or a new emerging player changing their whole life by winning a tournament or finishing up there and changing their career trajectory.

"The Tour really needs to hone in on that messaging in creating better storylines in my opinion."