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The 10 most significant quotes from Jay Monahan’s Players press conference—and what they really mean

Jared C. Tilton

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — In a performance that was alternately confident and cautious, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan spoke in front of the gathered media for the first time since last August at the Tour Championship. In the ensuing seven months, the tour’s framework agreement with the PIF has blazed past its deadline with negotiations ongoing but no deal in sight. Meanwhile, the tour has partnered with the Strategic Sports Group to form PGA Tour Enterprises (of which Monahan is the new CEO), and LIV Golf continues as a rival, one that poached notable players present (Jon Rahm) and past (Anthony Kim) from the PGA Tour ranks.

Over the course of an hour, Monahan fielded a variety of questions in generally good spirits, albeit with the occasional tense exchange. With many questions regarding discussions with the PIF, he reverted to a statement he made early on: "you can't negotiate a deal like this in public." In other words, no comment.

Still, there was information to be mined to a careful listener. What follows are the 10 most eye-opening statements Monahan made in his hour on the podium.

"I recently met with the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together. While we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf's worldwide potential."

The significance: Quite simply, Monahan sounded more optimistic than anyone might have guessed about the prospects of an eventual deal with PIF. This quote above was offered in his opening statement, not under questioning from the media, which can be viewed as him having time to prepare the exact wording. The fact that he used the terms "accelerating" and "shared vision" seems hopeful for reconciliation. In the absence of any other information, that's the most we can go on.

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"I do believe that negotiating a deal with PIF is the best outcome … I think an ultimate deal would be in the best interest of the game and ultimately would be in the best interest of the tour ."

The significance: Here again, in an otherwise cautious presser, Monahan telegraphs that he seems to want a deal, rather than a continuation of the painful status quo. He offered plenty of caveats—"obviously it has to be the right deal for both sides," and "if it can be done"—but to admit that he wants that resolution might be a slight tipping of his hand.

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"They [the fans] also want to know how we're planning to make the sport more entertaining and easier for them to watch and follow. Our fans are also telling us what an even more compelling product could look like. On our broadcast platforms it's more golf shots featuring more players, more data and analytics and more insight through innovations like mic'd up segments."

The significance: It can be difficult to know to what extent leaders such as Monahan are concerning themselves with the kind of discussion we see on social media every week about the tournament broadcasts—specifically too many commercials, not enough shots. The fact that he brought this up in his introduction shows that either improving the televised product is a true priority, or he is aware enough of the criticism that he wants it to be perceived as a true priority. Either outcome feels positive for fans, though obviously the former is preferable to the latter.

"I think that in any negotiation, both sides have to work together to reach that successful outcome. And if we can't, I'll continue my focus on all the areas I just outlined, and we'll continue to compete and be as strong a tour as we can possibly be, with a great new investor in SSG, with a lot of opportunity for that growth."

The significance: Monahan was reluctant to answer hypothetical questions about what the future would look like if a deal with PIF/LIV Golf isn't reached, but here he gave the clearest of a few unclear answers. It's not as revelatory as it could be, but it does show that he's thought about what it would entail (of course), and that it's not an overt disaster if no truce can be bridged.

"If we don't negotiate a deal, then I think ultimately we're back in the same posture that we're in, and we haven't unified our game and taken advantage of this unique point in time."

The significance: This response came after he lightly chided a reporter by saying, "it's the same question asked a different way, right?" However, this felt like a slightly different answer, or at least an answer with a noteworthy addition, which is that he would see it as a missed opportunity to have missed the moment for reunification. Compared to quotes we've seen in recent months, like Jordan Spieth implying that they didn't really need a deal with LIV , makes the whole prospect of finishing the job set out by the framework agreement far more urgent to Monahan.

"I did not have direct conversations with Anthony [Kim]. Members of our team did, and they very clearly laid out what it would take for him to earn his way back to the PGA Tour. I'm glad that Anthony is healthy and well, and we wish him well … I would have liked to see him compete to make his way back to the tour. But that's a decision he didn't, you know … obviously he made a different decision."

The significance: Pretty obvious here—Monahan is essentially saying that they weren't going to give Kim a free pass to appear in tour events, and while they would have liked him to follow a certain path to regain Tour status (and would have perhaps aided the path with certain exemptions), they were never going to be able to compete with whatever guaranteed money and starts LIV was offering. Nor did he want to spend much time on Kim—he cut off a follow-up question quickly.

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“ I do think there's some truth to that, and I do believe that. I think that in order to understand that, you've got to take a long-term perspective, and we're in a short-term world … that's certainly one of the things that I focus on and I will continue to focus on."

The significance: This came in response to a question asked by Golf Digest about whether the tour's ability to create new stars, and to grow the profile of current players, insulates or even protects the tour from player defections to LIV. In other words, if it's really not as big a deal as it seems when someone like Rahm is poached. Monahan endorsed the idea, at least partially, and added that tournament legacy and tradition, along with the uniqueness of a new weekly champion, are unique qualities to the tour that don't depend on a single person. And as the quote indicates, he responded in the affirmative to the idea that a part of his job is to convince other parties of the limited long-term impact of the defections.

"I just answered your question about what my focus is."

The significance: This was the tensest moment of the presser, and it came after a reporter asked if Monahan was concerned about players continuing to be poached by LIV even as negotiations with the PIF proceed. He answered that question by saying that he was focused on aspects of the tour he could control, but when the follow up came, he seemed irritated as he gave the quote above. Whether this means that it's an ongoing concern or just that he was sick of fielding the questions is not clear, but it was definitely a sore point in an otherwise polite back-and-forth. The reporter then tried to follow up again, but the moderator turned to another question.

"There are a lot of things that we're talking about, team golf being one of them, but it's just … I'm not at liberty to talk about the specifics. I just don't think that's helpful for what we're trying to accomplish together. But I do appreciate the question."

The significance: Hmmmm, team golf after a deal with PIF? Maybe? But does anyone actually want that? Regardless, you can infer here that it's definitely on the table to some degree.

"I think you all know Tiger well enough to know that he wants to earn his way into all of … into every competition. That's his makeup. But I think as you go forward and as you evolve as an organization and you think about how do you serve and satisfy a rabid fan base, those discussions more broadly would likely be held at the Policy Board meeting, and I'm sure we would have that discussion. But he would be the hardest one to convince."

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The significance: If it wasn't already obvious, Monahan seems to be telegraphing here that if Tiger Woods wanted to play in a tournament like the Players Championship, they would find a way. The obstacle isn't the Tour; it's Tiger himself, who believes in the tour's meritocracy and doesn't seem to want a free pass.

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8 Takeaways From Jay Monahan's Tour Championship Press Conference

The PGA Tour commissioner addressed the media to discuss a wide range of issues - here are the key points he raised

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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has faced the media for the first time since he stepped away from his role to address a “medical problem” following the announcement of a shock merger between the Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) that finances LIV Golf .

Following that health issue, Monahan is now back at work, and, ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake , he covered a wide range of subjects. 

Here are the key talking points from his return to the media spotlight.

He's Confident On An Agreement With PIF

Since the merger announcement was made, details of exactly how the top of the professional game will look in the future have been relatively threadbare. 

However, Monahan revealed that discussions with the PIF remain on track, and it’s hoped an agreement will be in place by January.

He revealed: “There are frequent talks. Tyler [Dennis] and Ron Price, who did a tremendous job in my absence, are leading conversations with the team from PIF, and I would just say, given the fact that there's frequency of talks, including Keith Pelley from DP World Tour, we're probably right where I would expect that we would be. 

"But there's an intensity and there's an urgency and there's a lot of work, good work, that's being done."

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A Position Of Power For The PGA Tour

Monahan thinks the PGA Tour will emerge from the deal with PIF in a position of power

Given the complexity of the ongoing discussions, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Monahan was reluctant to reveal specific details of precisely what the deal will mean for the PGA Tour. 

He did spell out how he saw the PGA Tour fitting in with its new partner, though – and suggested it’ll give it the power to call the shots on the direction of the game.

Asked what a positive outlook would look like for the Tour, he said: “It is the PGA Tour partnering with PIF, having PIF be a minority investor in NewCo with the PGA Tour, with full-board governance and operational control of the Tour and ultimately the men's professional game moving forward.”

Where Will PIF Money Be Invested?

As anyone who has kept a close eye on LIV Golf will know, the PIF is not short of money. 

With some of its estimated $620bn apparently destined for the PGA Tour in the future, Monahan offered some suggestions on where it would be invested.

He said: “For us to be able to use the capital to be able to invest back in our product, you know, to do things like further reduce commercial inventory in our broadcast, to further invest in our data businesses, to further invest in our media business, to potentially invest in entities and companies that we think are going to help us grow and diversify our fan base and the game.”

Sidestepping The LIV Golf Issue

Monahan was non-committal on the future of LIV Golf

In the aftermath of the merger announcement, PGA Tour Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne claimed Monahan would have the power to disband LIV Golf should he want to.

However, Monahan was keen to sidestep specifics over the circuit’s future, suggesting he wouldn’t answer questions on it until after an agreement is reached. 

“I think there are a lot of questions that are specific questions that are going to come and have come to me as it relates," he said. "I'm not going to talk publicly about them until we've completed those discussions and I can answer that question specifically and directly.”

Lucrative Deals For The PGA Tour

While the future of LIV Golf remains unclear, Monahan revealed the PGA Tour is looking strong thanks to some lucrative sponsorship deals. 

“I think it's important to note from a strength standpoint for 2024, we have $10bn in committed sponsorship revenue, $5bn in media rights revenue committed, both through 2030,” he revealed.

Will The PGA Tour Come To Hawaii In 2024?

Monahan hopes the Sentry Tournament of Champions remains in Hawaii despite devastation caused by wildfires

In recent weeks, wildfires have devastated Maui island in Hawaii, which is due to host January’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. 

In spite of that, though, Monahan said the PGA Tour remains committed to playing the event there – although it’s too soon to know whether it will happen.

“Absolutely," he said. "But I think at this point there's so many unknowns, and we want to be respectful of the challenges. 

"We want to help be a part of the revitalization. There are a lot of considerations. We're committed, you know, if it makes - if we're allowed to, if we're invited, if we're embraced, given all that needs to be accomplished, we will be there 100 percent. But I think at this point right now that's outside of our hands."

Still, despite Monahan's wish to host the tournament at Kapalua, he later admitted a change of location could be necessary. 

“All of our efforts are on and all of our attention is to try and get back to Kapalua and to try and be as close to what we've been in the past," he explained. "If it looks like that's not a possibility, then we'll go to plan B. I want to be clear, there's no indication that we won't be back there. We're just trying to be respectful.”

The Tour Championship Isn’t Going Anywhere

Monahan says the conclusion of the battle for the FedEx Cup trophy will remain at East Lake

While the venue for the Sentry Tournament of Champions remains unclear, Monahan explained there's no such uncertainty on the future of East Lake as the location for the Tour Championship .

“This tournament is extremely well positioned," he said. "I mean, I just see the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Tour Championship at East Lake only growing in significance as we go forward. 

"The FedEx Cup is foundational to the PGA Tour and making it to East Lake is foundational to our players. So we continue to invest in and around the event itself. We continue to be received by this community exceedingly well. Our ticket sales are up 20 percent year over year.”

He's Never Felt Better

There was a worrying development in the aftermath of the merger agreement, with Monahan taking time away from the game to address a “medical problem," but he says he’s now stronger than ever.

“I would put it this way: I have never felt better mentally and physically than I feel right now," explained Monahan. "And obviously I had to take some steps to go from where I was to this position. 

"But I'm a work in progress. So I'm working on the things that I've learned that are going to help me in my life and help me in this role, and that's something - like it is out here for our players, that's something I have to work on every single day."

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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Jay Monahan Short on Specifics But Says PGA Tour in ‘Driver’s Seat’ on Agreement With LIV Golf’s Backer

• Author: Bob Harig

Jay Monahan remains confident that the PGA Tour will reach an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the DP World Tour by the end of the year, saying the Tour is in the “ driver ’s seat” and “in a position to control our future.”

At an hourlong news conference Tuesday in advance of this week’s season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, the commissioner portrayed a positive outlook in light of what has been a trying year for him both professionally and personally.

Monahan, 53, has endured considerable criticism since the announcement of the "framework agreement" with the DP World Tour and the PIF on June 6 due to the confidential nature of the negotiations and most of the Tour membership learning of it at the last minute.

A week later, Monahan took a health leave from the Tour that he attributed to anxiety and returned to work July 17 .

“When you go back to our framework agreement, we have put an end to the divisive and distracting litigation, we have safeguards that are in place to put the PGA Tour in a position to control our future,” Monahan said. “And as I sit here today, I am confident that we will reach an agreement that achieves a positive outcome for the PGA Tour and our fans. I see it and I’m certain of it.”

How it looks, however, remains a mystery. Monahan would not get into any specifics about negotiations, which he said are ongoing. He would not speculate on what it means for the LIV Golf League, which is pushing forward with plans for 2024 and beyond. And when asked specifically about the end-of-year deadline, he would only say he is “confident we are going to reach a positive outcome for the PGA Tour.”

The way the “framework agreement” was laid out, the PGA Tour as it exists today would remain intact. PGA Tour Inc. is the nonprofit entity that governs the yearlong schedule that concludes this week with the Tour Championship and determining a FedEx Cup champion.

As part of the agreement, a new company would be formed called PGA Tour Enterprises. PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan—who would get a seat on the PGA Tour Policy Board alongside Tiger Woods —would be the chairman of the for-profit LLC, with Monahan as CEO.

The agreement called for the sides to do an evaluation of their various assets, including LIV Golf. How it would look is the subject of considerable speculation. The DP World Tour would figure in some way. LIV Golf could also, but likely as a reduced entity from the 14-tournament schedule it plays now.

The reason for the latter is if the two sides are to cooperate, in theory you’d need players from the PGA Tour and from LIV Golf supporting each side. Without that, it is possible LIV Golf could exist as it is going forward, although Monahan said initially he did not envision that.

Asked what he would say to those who take the cynical look that the framework agreement was done in order to drop litigation between the two sides, Monahan said:

“I would say that we operate in good faith and I see that on both sides. And that framework agreement, which is an agreement to reach an agreement, put us in a position to reach an agreement. Those safeguards that are in place and our commitment to moving from the divisive nature of the relationship we had to a productive one, for us to be able to make a fundamental transition to our business with the formation of NewCo [PGA Tour Enterprises], to have an investable entity for PIF to believe able to invest in that previously didn’t exist, for the PGA Tour to be in control of the future of men’s professional golf and for us to be partners, if we were going to end the litigation, we would have just announced that we were ending the litigation.”

Monahan said that Ron Price, COO of the PGA Tour, and Tyler Dennis, a vice president who attended the news conference with Monahan, are leading the talks with the PIF and the DP World Tour.

“We’re probably right where I expected we would be,” Monahan said. “Ron and I have been actively engaged weekly, multiple times a week, and aside from the aspects of the framework agreement that we’ve talked about, there’s just a lot of work streams that go into a deal like this between the PGA Tour, the PIF and the DP World Tour. So it progresses daily and it’s very positive and collaborative in nature.”

Monahan said a positive outcome for the PGA Tour involves partnering with the PIF and having it become a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises, the for-profit LLC, with the Tour maintaining operation control “of the PGA Tour and ultimately the men’s professional game going forward.”

He said that would allow the PGA Tour “to use the capital to be able to invest back in our product, to do things like further reduce commercial inventory in our broadcast, to further invest in our data businesses, to further invest in our media business, to potentially invest in entities and companies that we think are going to help us grow and diversify our fan base and the game.

“We’re not an organization that has the capital to invest, so to be able to be in that position and do that productively and constructively for the Tour and our players will impact the future.

“We have a responsibility to do that in addition to making this the strongest Tour it can possibly be. And I think it allows us to do both. So that to me is a successful outcome.”

PGA Tour hold players meeting, Jay Monahan plans press conference at Travelers

The PGA Tour is set to hold a meeting with the players at TPC River Highlands this week as it braces itself for further LIV Golf announcements.

The PGA Tour is set to hold a mandatory meeting with the players at the Travelers Championship today in Connecticut as further announcements on LIV Golf signings are expected in the coming days.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, the tour's most vocal advocates, are in the field this week at TPC River Highlands as well as World No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

On Wednesday, Jay Monahan is also set to hold a press conference in Cromwell at 1 pm local time. We anticipate the PGA Tour commissioner to update us on further actions he could take regarding player resignations and those who have chosen LIV Golf.

Since the first day of the inaugural LIV Golf event at Centurion Golf Club near London, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez have joined the series commissioned by Greg Norman.

These three players are set to be suspended from the circuit, as will players who continue to move over. Abraham Ancer is strongly rumoured to have made the switch and more are expected in the coming days.

Related: USGA CEO responds to heavy criticism of US Open broadcast

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan defends his decision to suspend PGA Tour players who signed up to the LIV Series ⛳ pic.twitter.com/sxtQU2fXEM — Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 12, 2022

According to reports, a multiple major winner has succumbed to the millions laid on offer by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Collin Morikawa, Bubba Watson and Brooks Koepka are players who fit this profile, with the latter two being the most likely suitors.

Monahan has held an aggressive line from the start with the LIV Golf Invitational Series. He joined Jim Nantz in the commentary box at the RBC Canadian Open two weeks ago where he passionately defended the PGA Tour.

"I guess I would answer the question (of why players cannot do both) by asking a question, and that is, why do they need us so badly? Because those players have chosen to sign multi-year lucrative contracts to play in a series of exhibition matches against the same players over and over again," Monahan said.

"You look at that versus what we see here today, and that's why they need us so badly. You've got true, pure competition, the best players in the world here at the RBC Canadian Open, with millions of fans watching, and in this game it's true and pure competition that creates the profile and presence of the world's greatest players.

"Why is this group spending so much money, billions of dollars, recruiting players and chasing a concept with no possibility of a return? At the same time, there has been a lot of question and comments about 'growth of the game' and I ask, 'how is this good for the game we love?'"

We could also expect Monahan to pass comment on the DP World Tour. The two circuits have a strategic alliance but the silence from the old European Tour has been deafening.

Other matters such as future major championships and the Ryder Cup could also be addressed in what is set to be another turbulent week in the world of professional golf.

Next Page: Will Zalatoris hits out at "Instagram morons" after US Open heartbreak

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With Jay Monahan’s sudden absence, the PGA Tour faces unprecedented questions

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Jay Monahan is out with an undisclosed medical situation.

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LOS ANGELES — USGA CEO Mike Whan began his Wednesday press conference with an overture to another of golf’s leaders.

“Before we get started I want to say to my friend and colleague, Jay — I hope you’re watching this, Jay — I hope you’re feeling better and just know that everybody at the USGA and everybody in the game of golf wishes you a speedy recovery.”

It was a thoughtful nod to the man who was the talk of the sports world Tuesday night: PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was stepping away from his day-to-day duties due to an undisclosed “ medical situation .”

The announcement marked the latest twist in a stunning seven-day news cycle that began last Tuesday with the Tour’s announcement about a framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (and its property, LIV). Monahan’s absence would have been a big deal any week, but given the seriousness of the Tour’s upcoming decisions, this timing has even bigger ramifications for golf’s future.

The Tour already faces unprecedented questions — and now leadership is one of them. Let’s run through six of the biggest.

1. How long will Monahan be out?

I should start by saying that I don’t know the nature of the commissioner’s medical situation. I don’t know his current state nor his timetable for return. When contacted by GOLF.com, the Tour had no further comment. In an employee meeting Wednesday morning, Tour staffers weren’t given any additional information than what was already released. The natural order of things at golf tournaments is for the media to ask questions of the players, but on Wednesday it was the other way around, too. Have you heard anything about Jay? And sure, there were plenty of whispers about Monahan, but nothing concrete enough to print here.

We can infer a few things from the Tour’s statement, however, which ran as follows:

Jay Monahan informed the PGA TOUR Policy Board that he is recuperating from a medical situation. The Board fully supports Jay and appreciates everyone respecting his privacy. During Jay’s absence, Ron Price, Chief Operating Officer, and Tyler Dennis, Executive Vice President & President, PGA TOUR, will lead the day-to-day operations of the PGA TOUR with the assistance of the great team Jay has built, ensuring seamless continuity. We will provide further updates as appropriate.

My first learning: This is serious. Were it not serious, Monahan could have merely operated in the shadows while his deputies ran the show. Were it not serious, they wouldn’t have needed a statement to begin with. Were it not serious, the PGA Tour commissioner wouldn’t step away during a pivotal time for his league.

There was plenty of social-media speculation that it was part of some larger ploy to orchestrate Monahan’s departure from the Tour, but — like plenty of theories on social media — there wasn’t much evidence, either logical or circumstantial, to back that up. Monahan is expected to be a massive part of professional golf’s future, which means it’s significant if he isn’t a part of its present.

The uncertainty around Monahan’s condition and timeline fit into a theme for the week: There’s a lot of focus on things we don’t know much about.

2. What’s in this agreement, anyway?

I’ll reiterate that there’s a lot of focus on things we don’t know much about. Some players have attempted to shut the topic out altogether, surrendering to the uncertainty. Rory McIlroy remains involved behind the scenes but has gone mum on the subject and canceled his early-week press conference. Patrick Cantlay said he’s not saying much while he’s in the information-gathering phase, and you can be sure he means it. Jon Rahm said he contemplated throwing his phone in a drawer the day the news broke.

“There’s a lot of not-answered questions. It’s tough when it’s the week before a major. Trying not to think about it as much as possible,” he said.

Max Homa echoed that sentiment.

“My opinion is, I guess, ever-changing,” he said. “It’s actually nice to be as confused as I am here because I’m not really thinking about it anymore. I’m ready to just go play golf.”

Confusion reigned in the immediate aftermath of the announcement. Other feelings, too: the words “betrayal” and “distrust” were tossed around. But through conversations with interested parties it’s become slightly more clear what one version of the PIF-PGA Tour arrangement would look like.

According to Monahan’s comments, the release and sources familiar with discussions, the framework agreement would shift the commercial properties of the PGA Tour (a non-profit, until now) and DP World Tour plus LIV Golf into a new for-profit company. That company would then undergo an independent valuation. The company would have Monahan as its CEO and PIF governer Yasir al-Rumayyan as the chairman of its board, which would also include Monahan and the architects of the deal, Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy. Following the valuation, the PIF would have the exclusive opportunity to invest in that company. Sources suggested that the PIF investment could consist of 20 to 25 percent of the new company, likely making their investment multiple billions of dollars.

There are a million complexities that come along with putting the agreement into place. But the deal’s fundamentals are actually relatively simple. In short, the Tour would gain financial stability, the PIF would gain a seat and a voice at pro golf’s most important table and both would reap the benefits of a lawsuit ceasefire. (That last part’s important.)

3. Who’s in charge?

Several initial reports described the arrangement as the Saudis “buying golf.” But it’s not quite so simple. Dunne has insisted that the agreement will have language in place clearly establishing that the Tour maintains control. That means maintaining a significant board majority, and it means the entity would be able to decide whether or not to accept additional investment from the PIF beyond its initial minority stake. The implication is also that, while al-Rumayyan will have input, he won’t be as involved in the day-to-day as he has been with LIV.

But because we haven’t seen any of this spelled out, the critical details remain understandably confusing. Does al-Rumayyan hold more power serving as chairman of the board than Monahan as CEO? And if the PIF suddenly decided it wanted more control, would the Tour really be able to stop them? We’ll need to know more before we can know more, but this will remain a central question of the deal until we do.

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4. What happens to LIV?

If the deal happens, LIV would fall under control of the new company alongside the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. To hear Dunne describe it, Monahan would then have complete control over LIV’s future. And while Monahan has said he’d look at the best ways to incorporate team golf going forward, something would change in the dynamic between LIV and the Tour. It’s just not clear what or when. LIV will finish out the 2023 season, and the next question will be whether they play a similar schedule in 2024. According to Greg Norman, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, the organization is currently planning to do so. That makes sense given a lack of clear alternative on the table; it just feels subject to change.

Pros from both sides seemed eager to keep things civil at this week’s U.S. Open, where 15 LIV players are in the field. If there are penalties coming their way, after all, they’d like to introduce some goodwill to the process.

This is one area where Monahan’s absence has a particularly obvious effect: If he’s the one in control of LIV’s future and he’s away from his position for the foreseeable future, how does that affect the decision?

5. What happens to LIV players if they return to the PGA Tour?

There are two ways to handle a potential reintegration of LIV pros to the PGA Tour. Players and officials, including Rory McIlroy, have made it clear that pros who left shouldn’t be able to return without paying some sort of penalty. But there’s no question that pros who left will have an avenue back; that feels like a significant piece of the deal. Big-picture, that’s the whole point. At some point, there will be a committee that figures out how, when and by which conditions those players can return. That seems like a difficult thing to get right; I can’t think of any close equivalent in other sports.

Meanwhile, some players who stayed on the PGA Tour and turned down significant LIV money are hoping for some sort of remuneration. Here’s one exchange that speaks to that:

Q. Do you think players who stayed loyal should be rewarded for that?

Patrick Cantlay: “In a perfect world, yeah.”

Q. In the real world?

“I think the real answer is we’ll see. It hasn’t been decided yet.”

Nearly everything remains on the table. The Times reported on Wednesday that one version of the deal includes cash payments to players who stayed, including a “compensation fund” to make up for lost earnings. The fact the money would originate from the same source the Tour initially decried makes this a little complex, to say the least. But that’s far from a done deal, too. Speaking of which…

6. Will the deal go through?

Oh, boy — now I’m really out of my depth. But there are a few obvious hurdles between where we are and the finish line that don’t require any fancy legal analysis to identify.

The first is a vote. The PGA Tour policy board will meet to discuss the arrangement and, assuming they have some more specifics in place, hold a vote on the deal. Herlihy and Dunne are two of the five independent directors on the board, which also includes five players: McIlroy, Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson.

But that vote seems like small potatoes when compared to an obstacle like the U.S. government. Various senators have expressed their dismay surrounding the deal and the Tour’s reversal of position on dealing with Saudi Arabia. And the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the Department of Justice plans to review the arrangement, citing antitrust concerns.

That’s one obvious wrinkle to any deal struck between LIV and the PGA Tour: it’s tough to un-say what LIV has alleged about the Tour being anti-competitive and monopolistic. Still, reviewing the arrangement doesn’t mean torpedoing the arrangement. It’s just another regulatory hurdle.

The DOJ’s involvement could delay the deal, at the very least. That’s in keeping with a theme, because each question we’ve raised here (plus plenty more we haven’t) suggests delay, and delay, and delay. The framework agreement may have promised to change golf overnight, but the actual process of doing so hardly seems close to resolution.

Over the past week, players and officials have stressed just how few people — maybe five to seven — know the particulars of the deal. Now one of those people is on medical leave.

Which means any questions we have won’t be answered for a while.

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'Can Take Years': After Jay Monahan Raised Merger Fears, PGA Tour Ally Admits Real Reason Behind Repeated Delays

The pga tour and pif will seal the deal, bessette is confident.

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PGA Tour Commissioner Steps Back After ‘Medical Situation’

The tour did not elaborate on Jay Monahan’s condition but said two other executives would oversee operations during his absence.

By Alan Blinder

Reporting from Los Angeles

The PGA Tour said Tuesday night that Jay Monahan, its commissioner, was “recuperating from a medical situation” and that two of its other executives would oversee the tour’s day-to-day operations for the time being.

The tour’s four-sentence statement came one week after Monahan, 53, announced that the tour had reached a partnership deal with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which bankrolled the LIV Golf league that has clashed with Monahan’s circuit for more than a year.

Monahan, the tour’s commissioner since 2017, was one of the lead negotiators during the secret talks , which led to an agreement that has caused a furor among players, outrage on Capitol Hill and the prospect that the Justice Department will seek to block the arrangement. Facing a crush of opposition to the deal, he has spent recent days crafting a response, including a session with players he called “heated,” a contentious news conference, a town-hall meeting with tour employees in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and a pointed letter to lawmakers in Washington .

The statement, attributed to Monahan and the tour’s board, did not elaborate on the commissioner’s condition but said that the board “fully supports Jay and appreciates everyone respecting his privacy.”

The tour did not give a timeline for Monahan’s return and said that Ron Price, the circuit’s chief operating officer, and Tyler Dennis, the president of the PGA Tour, would take charge in the interim.

“Our thoughts are with Jay and his family during his absence, and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Price and Dennis said in a statement. “We have a strong and experienced leadership team in place, and our priority is to support our players and continue the work underway to further lead the PGA Tour and golf’s future.”

Monahan has worked for the tour since 2008, with stints as its chief operating officer, its chief marketing officer and as executive director of the Players Championship. Under the deal that Monahan helped broker this spring after he spent months condemning the rush of Saudi cash into men’s professional golf, the moneymaking components of the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, are to be housed in a new company.

Monahan is expected to be its chief executive, and Yasir al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi wealth fund, is in line for its chairmanship. Monahan and his lieutenants have insisted that the company’s structure, which allows for extensive Saudi investment, will give the PGA Tour ultimate authority over the most elite tiers of professional golf. But al-Rumayyan’s role and the potential for significant infusions of Saudi cash have helped stir doubts about the extent of Monahan’s authority.

It is not clear when the deal will close, but the agreement has been the subject of intense discussion and skepticism among players at the U.S. Open, a major tournament scheduled to begin Thursday at the Los Angeles Country Club.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, the wealth fund said it was “committed to working closely with the PGA leadership and board to advance our previously announced transaction to invest significantly in the growth of golf for the benefit of players, fans and the expansion of the game around the world.”

Alan Blinder is a sports reporter. He has reported from more than 30 states, as well as Asia and Europe, since he joined The Times in 2013. More about Alan Blinder

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Jay Monahan: Negotiations with Saudis progressing, complex

CROMWELL, Conn. – PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been abundantly clear since last June’s framework agreement with Saudi Arabia ’s Public Investment Fund set the stage for a possible reunification of the professional game: “I'm not going to negotiate in public,” he has said on numerous occasions.

Given the complexities of the negotiations with PIF, which owns LIV Golf, Monahan’s reluctance to give detailed answers about a potential deal is understandable but Wednesday at the Travelers Championship he did provide a modicum of clarity.

“The meeting that we had just two Fridays ago in New York, where our entire transaction committee, including Tiger Woods and Adam Scott being in person and Rory [McIlroy] dialing in from the Memorial Tournament, alongside Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of the PIF and representatives of the PIF,” Monahan said.

“I would say to you that there were a lot of important aspects that we talked about in that meeting, aspects that will be important towards a final agreement that we got consensus on, and there are a number of areas that we recognize that we weren't going to, but identified them, and that's what we're focused on and that's what we're working on.”

Monahan and the board of directors of PGA Tour Enterprises – the new, for-profit entity that was created to allow for outside investment into the Tour – met Tuesday in Hartford, Conn., for more than five hours with the negotiations with PIF one of the main agenda items.

Although the commissioner didn’t offer any details on the negotiations he did acknowledge how complicated it is to negotiate a multi-billion deal that is sure to draw scrutiny from the Department of Justice and includes the nuanced difficulty of reuniting a fractured game after a bitter three-year turf war.

“All I can say is that when you have people the likes of John Henry and Arthur Blank, Sam Kennedy, Andy Cohen, Joe Gorder have massive experience in sport and in the corporate world. When they say that this is one of the more complex scenarios that they have ever seen, I think that says a lot,” Monahan said. “There are a lot of different factors at play, but nobody who is having the conversation is unaware of the complexity, and everyone I think is embracing the fact that there are things, obstacles and things you got to overcome in a complex situation. We have the right people around the table for us and they do as well.”

The board did approve two adjustments to eligibility for the signature events including the addition of an alternate list to assure at least 72 players in each field. Five of the eight signature events this season have had fewer than 72 players and the new rule would allow officials to fill out fields via the Aon Next 10 list.

The board also approved a new exemption for Tiger Woods that would allow him access to seven of the eight signature events, excluding The Sentry. Woods played just one signature event this season, the Genesis Invitational which he hosts, on a sponsor exemption.

“I think it was important to our membership, it's something we talked about with the [Player Advisory Council], it was important to our player directors, it was important to our board, it's important to me because the man has won more than 80 events, and I think any event he's ever played in he's made it bigger, he's made it better, he's drawn more eyeballs to it, and I think just as an organization we wanted to celebrate his exceptionalism in that manner,” Monahan said.

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PGA TOUR announces ‘significant changes’

A return to calendar-year schedule coming in 2024 with purse increases and revised FedExCup Playoffs arriving next year

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Commissioner Jay Monahan discusses upcoming changes to PGA TOUR schedule

CROMWELL, Conn. – The PGA TOUR will return to a calendar-year schedule in 2024, one of a series of changes announced Wednesday that also includes eight tournaments with greatly enhanced purses, revised field sizes for the FedExCup Playoffs, and a reimagined fall including up to three no-cut, limited-field international events.

Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the changes, made in conjunction with the Policy Board and Player Directors, in a press conference at the Travelers Championship.

He also announced the changes in a letter to the players.

“These changes will further strengthen the FedExCup and create a strong, coordinated global schedule,” Monahan wrote, detailing a condensed FedExCup season that will run from January to August, “offering a more compelling product for our players, fans and partners.”

In broad strokes, the FedExCup Playoffs will feature revised field sizes starting next year. The top 70 will make the first event of the Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. The top 50 will make the BMW Championship, and the top 30, as usual, will compete for the FedExCup at the TOUR Championship at East Lake.

The 70 players who qualify for the first Playoffs event will be fully exempt for the following season, including invitationals. Anyone outside that cutoff can improve his status in the fall events, at the conclusion of which the top 125 will be fully exempt for the following season.

“While different than it’s been in the past, I think it’s going to be very exciting for fans and I think will create great energy in the fall,” said Monahan, who added that he expects the fall events to be “very consequential, very meaningful."

Additionally, the TOUR is making room for up to three international, no-cut, limited-field events, taking the top 50 from the final FedExCup, and top performers from the fall. The format and other details of these events are under review by the Player Advisory Council.

Alongside these changes, the Policy Board also amended the Resource Allocation Plan to increase purse sizes at the following eight events in 2023:

Sentry Tournament of Champions – $15 million (up from $8.2M in 2022)

The Genesis Invitational - $20 million (up from $12 million in 2022)

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard - $20 million (up from $12 million in 2022)

THE PLAYERS Championship - $25 million (up from $20 million in 2022)

WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play - $20 million (up from $12 million in 2022)

the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday - $20 million (up from $12 million in 2022)

FedEx St. Jude Championship - $20 million (up from $15 million in 2022)

BMW Championship - $20 million (up from $15 million in 2022)

“There is more work to be done and details to confirm,” Monahan said in a lengthy press conference at TPC River Highlands, “but implementing substantial changes to our schedule gives us the best opportunity to not only drive earnings to our players, but also improve our product and create a platform for continued growth in the future.”

In his pre-tournament press conference at the Travelers Championship, two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy reflected on the impact that the PGA TOUR has on the communities it plays in while also reflecting on the organization’s future.

“I think it's not lost on me what PGA TOUR events … can do for the communities that they're played in,” he said. “I think that's not lost on the players that when they come and play PGA TOUR events they're helping to do something really good in the community … and I think that's important.”

As one of four player directors on the PGA TOUR Policy Board, McIlroy spent five hours in a board meeting Monday where the changes to the schedule were discussed.

McIlroy said the elevated events are “important for the future of the TOUR” without minimizing other events on the schedule.

“You’re going to have tournaments that guys love to play and they’re going to come back and keep playing them,” said McIlroy, who’s competing for the fourth week in a row.

The top three players in the FedExCup – Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and McIlroy -- and six of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are set to tee it up at the Travelers, where Harris English is the defending champion.

“On the PGA TOUR, our members compete for the opportunity to add their names to history books, and, yes, significant financial benefits, without having to wrestle with any sort of moral ambiguity,” Monahan said. “And pure competition creates relevancy and context, which is what fans need and expect in order to invest their time in a sport and in a player.

“That's the beauty of the PGA TOUR,” he added. “We have and always will provide a global platform for members to compete against the very best, earn their stardom, and become household names."

Rory McIlroy's time off 'exactly what he should be doing,' PGA Tour commissioner says

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says he understands why Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Travelers Championship to recover from a late-Sunday meltdown at the U.S. Open

CROMWELL, Conn. -- No hard feelings, Rory.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he understands why Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Travelers Championship — the final signature event on the calendar — to recover from a late-Sunday meltdown at the U.S. Open .

“Sometimes you just need to focus on what you need,” Monahan said on Wednesday, a day before the tournament at TPC River Highlands outside of Hartford. “And that’s what he’s doing and that’s exactly what he should be doing because that’s what he thinks is the right path.”

McIlroy twice had a one-shot lead at Pinehurst No. 2 before he bogeyed three of the last four holes, missing a pair of par putts from inside 4 feet. Instead of McIlroy’s fifth major championship — and his first in 10 years — Bryson DeChambeau claimed his second .

On Monday, McIlroy said on social media that he would be taking three weeks off to “build myself back up.” He is planning to return July 10-13 for the Scottish Open, where he is the defending champion, followed by the British Open the following week at Royal Troon in Scotland.

Without him, there will be 71 players teeing off on Thursday in the limited field, no-cut signature event at the TPC River Highlands. McIlroy is the only one in the top eight in the world ranking or the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings who will miss it.

“You look at the quality of the field that we have this week, we’re going to have a great Travelers Championship,” Monahan said. “And I’m looking forward to getting Rory back in Scotland.”

The Travelers Championship is the one week of the year that Keegan Bradley has bragging rights over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Not only is Bradley the defending champion at the TPC River Highlands, but the native New Englander can remind his Texan rival how the NBA Finals turned out. Bradley’s Boston Celtics beat Scheffler’s Dallas Mavericks in a Game 5 clincher on Monday night.

Asked about arriving in Celtics country so soon after Boston won its unprecedented 18th NBA championship, Scheffler joked, “Do I have to answer that question?” Scheffler said he hasn’t heard any razzing on the course but one fan asked him to sign a Celtics hat.

He declined.

“I don’t blame him,” Bradley said. “I wouldn’t want to either if I was a Dallas fan.”

Bradley grew up in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as a fervid Boston sports fan and married the niece of baseball Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. At a Fenway Park news conference last fall to introduce the local franchise in the new, high-tech TGL circuit, he described the thrill of seeing the Red Sox clubhouse and giving Englishman Tyrrell Hatton a tour of the ballpark.

The Travelers presented Bradley with one of Fenway's wooden seats at the tournament’s media day in April.

“It’s one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever gotten — probably the coolest gift I’ve ever gotten in my life,” he said. “To have a seat from Fenway Park in your house is pretty spectacular.”

The Travelers will feature 22 players out of the 60 who have qualified for the Paris Olympics , including all four Americans: Scheffler, defending gold medalist Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa.

Others include Ludvig Aberg (Sweden), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Britain's Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick. Although they will be playing for their countries, the Olympics is a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament will award medals to the individuals with the low scores.

“There is no team aspect of it. It would be cool if there was,” said Morikawa, who finished fourth in Tokyo, losing in a seven-man, sudden-death playoff for the bronze medal on the fourth extra hole. “Caddies are definitely going to scout the course together, they’re going to do you all the prep together, a lot of sharing information, just as if it were a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup kind of in that sense. But when it comes down to it on Thursday, it’s our event, it’s our own individual event.”

That doesn’t mean there’s no patriotism involved.

“I’m not necessarily going to go out and try to play too many practice rounds with somebody from a different country,” said Scheffler, who will be making his Olympic debut and confessed he hadn’t really thought about it. “We’re trying to go over there and earn a medal for the USA so it will probably be a closer-knit circle as we go over there.”

The rankings to determine Olympic spots were finalized with the conclusion of the U.S. Open. Countries are limited to two players, unless their third- and fourth-best players are ranked within the top 15 in the world.

Golf was in the Olympics early in the last century before it was dropped from the program for more than 100 years. It returned in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, making this the third go-round.

Scheffler said he is excited to be a part of the Summer Games and check out other sports, including basketball and tennis. He also wanted to make a trip to the Olympic Village to watch the other athletes train.

“I grew up playing a ton of sports, and so to be able to see the best in the world at their craft would be pretty special,” he said.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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Jay Monahan confirms progress between PGA Tour and Saudi backers of LIV Golf

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan gestures during an interview during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

CROMWELL, Conn. — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday the difficulty in finalizing a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf isn’t a reason for concern.

“With complexity comes opportunity,” he said before the start of the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands. “There are a lot of different factors at play, but nobody who is having the conversation is unaware of the complexity. And everyone, I think, is embracing the fact that there are obstacles and things you’ve got to overcome in a complex situation.

“We have the right people around the table for us,” Monahan said, “and they do as well.”

It’s been more than a year since the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia — the financial backer of the rival LIV circuit — announced plans to form a partnership that would help bring peace to a sport torn apart by the departures of dozens of top players lured away by Saudi riches.

A framework for the deal was announced on June 6, 2023, with plans to finalize it by the end of the year.

The deadline passed with no agreement. Monahan said a June 11 meeting in New York, attended by Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, with Rory McIlroy phoning in from the Memorial, was “very productive.” He declined to give specifics.

Monahan said he is on the phone with the PIF multiple times a week, including just about an hour earlier on Wednesday morning. “My outlook for those discussions and discussions continues to be very positive,” he said.

Speaking from the last of the limited field, no-cut signature events on the tour’s calendar this year, Monahan declined to say what has been agreed to and what remains unsettled. The original framework has changed greatly, he acknowledged.

“The framework agreement is still relevant. There are aspects of it that certainly continue to be in play. But we’ve all stepped back, and we started anew,” he said, listing new committees and other opportunities for the players to participate and profit from a future tour. “The vast majority of what we’re talking about, we’re building from the ground up.”

One of the complexities the deal faces is a possible objection from the Justice Department on antitrust grounds. The rival tours would need to show that the deal enhances competition — by bringing all the best golfers to the same tournament, for example — instead of squelching competition by giving golf fans, sponsors and players fewer options.

The sides already bowed to one suggestion from the Justice Department last summer, eliminating an anti-poaching clause in the framework agreement.

Meanwhile, players continued to defect to LIV — including last year’s Masters champion, Jon Rahm.

Only seven players have been involved in the talks. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said he didn’t know enough about the negotiations to worry about what will happen.

“I haven’t really heard too much, so I don’t know if they’re going great or if they’re going poorly, so your guess is as good as mine I think at this point,” he said. “Definitely no frustration or anything like that for me. It’s out of my control, so I’m not too worried about it.

“They have got a lot of big business decisions to make,” said Scheffler, who is a member of the Player Advisory Council. “But as far as input in the negotiations, I don’t really have much to say at all.”

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Jay monahan talks at the travelers championship, reveals little about pif/liv negotiations, share this article.

CROMWELL, Conn. — Two years ago at the Travelers Championship, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan sat behind an elevated desk and tried to project strength and resolve. He talked for roughly 40 minutes that day about a reworked, calendar-based schedule for the tour, massive purse increases at Signature Events and how challenging it is for players to earn a spot on the PGA Tour. With Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) poaching stars and signing them to compete in LIV Golf, Monahan was trying to keep more of the PGA Tour’s stars from defecting and the rank-and-file golfers happy.

Wednesday morning, Monahan stood in front of the same desk instead of sitting behind it. Air-conditioning protected everyone from the sweltering conditions outside at TPC River Highlands. Reporters, holding audio recorders, encircled him.

Monahan spoke in a low, conversational voice. He was measured and controlled, and he stayed on brand. For just under 15 minutes, the head of the PGA Tour talked about the state of the PGA Tour. However, at the end of his chat with reporters, there were only a few things that we learned, and if golf fans were dreaming that rumors of a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announcing a deal soon could be true, Monahan did nothing to make that dream feel like a reality.

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Here are the most significant takeaways.

1. Negotiations with PIF are continuing in the background, not through the media

“I know (the media) are eager to know more,” Monahan said. “But I will go back to the meeting that we had just two Fridays ago in New York, when our entire transaction committee, including Tiger Woods and Adam Scott being in person and Rory dialing in from the Memorial Tourmament, alongside Yasir Al Rumyan, the governor of the PIF, and representatives of the PIF … it was a very productive discussion. As we said, progress was made and we continue to be in regular dialog. I had a 10 o’clock call this morning with the PIF and we’re doing that multiple times a week.”

Rumors that were floated last week on social media that a deal between the PGA Tour and PIF would be announced here this week proved false, and Monahan is clearly not going to talk about the specifics of the negotiations outside closed-door meetings.

“I’d like to give you more, but I would say to you that there are a lot of important aspects that we talked about in that meeting, aspects that will be important towards the final agreement that we got consensus on, and then there were a number of areas that we recognized that we weren’t going to, but identified them and that’s what we’re focused on.”

2. The ‘Framework’ is not being used

On June 6, 2023, the PGA Tour and PIF announced that a framework had been reached , ending the litigation between the two groups. It was not a takeover or merger agreement, but in the words of the PGA Tour was, “a set of requirements and safeguards that guide our work toward a definitive agreement.”

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and every other PGA Tour player was shocked by the announcement and caught off guard. However, a year later, that agreement has lost most of its value.

“I would say that the framework agreement is still relevant, there are aspects of it that still continue to be in play, but I would put it that we’ve all stepped back and we’ve started anew,” Monahan said. “Particularly with the introduction of our transaction committee, our players’ involvement … I would say that the vast majority of what we’re talking about, we’re building from the ground up.”

3. With complexity comes opportunity

Between the interests and concerns of the PGA Tour, PIF, players, the Department of Justice and fans, the negotiations taking place to unify men’s professional golf are complicated. Very complicated.

When Monahan was asked whether members of the media and fans fully understand how nuanced and intricate the discussions are, he said when business heavyweights like John Henry (the principal owner of the Boston Red, Pittsburgh Penguins, Liverpool Football Club, and the Boston Globe), Sam Kennedy (Red Sox president), Arthur Blank and others say this is one of the most complex scenarios they have ever seen, it’s hard to think anyone on the outside of the talks could fully grasp them.

“So as it relates to whether or not the complexity is being underestimated, I think that it is only fair to say that unless you have a full context for everything that is being discussed, it would be unreasonable for anyone to think that you would fully understand the complexity,” Monahan said.

At that point, Monahan uttered a phrase that would make any optimist proud: “With complexity comes opportunity.”

4. Tiger’s exemption

Following Tuesday evening’s PGA Tour policy board meeting, the tour announced that Woods had been given a special exemption into all future Signature Events. Right now, these events are contested by golfers who finished in the top 50 of the prior season’s FedExCup, players who win PGA Tour events, golfers who are ranked in the top 30 on the Official World Golf Ranking and other elite-player rankings.

“It is something that was important to our membership, it was something we talked about with the PAC (Player’s Advisory Council), it was important to our player directors, it’s important to our board,” Monahan said.

“It’s important to me because, as the exemption says, the man has won more than 80 events and I think being able to give him the opportunity to compete in these events … any event he’s ever played in, he’s made it bigger, he’s made it better and he’s drawn more eyeballs to it.”

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Seth Waugh is stepping aside after 6 years leading the PGA of America

Seth Waugh is leaving after six years as the CEO of the PGA of America

Seth Waugh is leaving the PGA of America after six years as CEO, a period marked by a sharp boost in golf participation and PGA membership and moving headquarters from Florida to a massive complex in Texas.

Waugh was the CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas when he joined the PGA of America board as an independent director and then was hired to lead the 30,000-plus members in 2018.

His contract was up for renewal on June 30, and Waugh decided not to renew.

“It feels like the right time, not only personally but professionally,” Waugh said. “We’ve accomplished an awful lot in the six years. The game has never been in better shape. Participation is at an all-time high. It’s growing in all the ways we hoped it would.

“The fastest growth is women and people of color. We try to make the game look like the rest of the world, and maybe have the world behave more like our game.”

Waugh will stay on with the PGA of America in a senior advisory role. He will be at the British Open and Paris Olympics and plans to be part of the Ryder Cup next year at Bethpage Black.

The PGA of America said it has begun a search for CEO including candidates from inside and outside the association. Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer and a key executive since 1989, will be interim CEO but will not be a candidate.

“We are grateful for Seth’s leadership and for all that he accomplished for our members, our game, the business and our people,” PGA of America President John Lindert said. “He skillfully led us through incredibly challenging times and was always a great partner. We are fortunate to be able to call on him going forward for his always helpful advice and counsel.”

Waugh’s involvement in golf dates back longer than his time with the PGA of America. He was behind bringing a PGA Tour event to the TPC Boston in 2003 — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was the first tournament director of the Deutsche Bank Championship — and he has been a key voice in business and golf along the way.

“Seth’s voice on important issues has been steady and stellar as the golf world has gone through unprecedented change during his tenure,” Masters chairman Fred Ridley said.

Among his chief goals when he became CEO was supporting the professionals that spend long hours teaching the game. That includes a deferred compensation retirement plan for PGA of America members.

“The first time in 110 years anyone figured that out. I borrowed from my own background to help with that,” Waugh said. “But our membership satisfaction is at an all-time high.”

He said the average salary for a professional has exceeded $100,000 for the first time, and membership has surpassed 30,000, another benchmark.

Waugh had been been dropping hints since April that he was nearing the end. He signed up for a four-year term as CEO — he compared four years to a college or presidential term — and felt that would be enough time to make changes. He agreed to two more years in 2022 after golf made it through the COVID-19 pandemic with spikes in participation.

Most notably to Waugh was the age of those playing.

“We’re not declaring victory by any means, but the greatest statistic is 48% of all golfers are under the age of 35,” he said. “That’s generational growth, people from 25 playing until they’re 75, as opposed to playing from 65 to 75. It’s such a sea change.

“You realize this generation wants to do things with purpose, and golf has purpose,” he said. “You’re a teacher, a coach, and you have a mission to make lives better. The whole premise why I took this job was I felt I’d never have a chance to have more impact on more lives.”

He had no immediate plans after his board duties at the Olympics.

“I have often said that golf is one of the great engines of good on Earth,” he said. “I am perhaps the biggest all-time beneficiary of that good and I want to thank the membership, my colleagues, all the various board members, past presidents, our extraordinary partners, my peers at all the other golf bodies, as well as everyone who plays and loves our beautiful game for all the support and friendship during this journey.

“What a gift that has been.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Orlando Cepeda dies

Rory McIlroy’s time off ‘exactly what he should be doing,’ PGA Tour commissioner says

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, and Scottie Scheffler finish their first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Collin Morikawa watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II )

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts on the 15th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — No hard feelings, Rory.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he understands why Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Travelers Championship — the final signature event on the calendar — to recover from a late-Sunday meltdown at the U.S. Open .

“Sometimes you just need to focus on what you need,” Monahan said on Wednesday, a day before the tournament at TPC River Highlands outside of Hartford. “And that’s what he’s doing and that’s exactly what he should be doing because that’s what he thinks is the right path.”

McIlroy twice had a one-shot lead at Pinehurst No. 2 before he bogeyed three of the last four holes, missing a pair of par putts from inside 4 feet. Instead of McIlroy’s fifth major championship — and his first in 10 years — Bryson DeChambeau claimed his second .

On Monday, McIlroy said on social media that he would be taking three weeks off to “build myself back up.” He is planning to return July 10-13 for the Scottish Open, where he is the defending champion, followed by the British Open the following week at Royal Troon in Scotland.

Without him, there will be 71 players teeing off on Thursday in the limited field, no-cut signature event at the TPC River Highlands. McIlroy is the only one in the top eight in the world ranking or the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings who will miss it.

“You look at the quality of the field that we have this week, we’re going to have a great Travelers Championship,” Monahan said. “And I’m looking forward to getting Rory back in Scotland.”

Enemy territory

The Travelers Championship is the one week of the year that Keegan Bradley has bragging rights over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Not only is Bradley the defending champion at the TPC River Highlands, but the native New Englander can remind his Texan rival how the NBA Finals turned out. Bradley’s Boston Celtics beat Scheffler’s Dallas Mavericks in a Game 5 clincher on Monday night.

Asked about arriving in Celtics country so soon after Boston won its unprecedented 18th NBA championship, Scheffler joked, “Do I have to answer that question?” Scheffler said he hasn’t heard any razzing on the course but one fan asked him to sign a Celtics hat.

He declined.

“I don’t blame him,” Bradley said. “I wouldn’t want to either if I was a Dallas fan.”

Bradley grew up in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as a fervid Boston sports fan and married the niece of baseball Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. At a Fenway Park news conference last fall to introduce the local franchise in the new, high-tech TGL circuit, he described the thrill of seeing the Red Sox clubhouse and giving Englishman Tyrrell Hatton a tour of the ballpark.

The Travelers presented Bradley with one of Fenway’s wooden seats at the tournament’s media day in April.

“It’s one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever gotten — probably the coolest gift I’ve ever gotten in my life,” he said. “To have a seat from Fenway Park in your house is pretty spectacular.”

Paris preview

The Travelers will feature 22 players out of the 60 who have qualified for the Paris Olympics , including all four Americans: Scheffler, defending gold medalist Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa.

Others include Ludvig Aberg (Sweden), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick. Although they will be playing for their countries, the Olympics is a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament will award medals to the individuals with the low scores.

“There is no team aspect of it. It would be cool if there was,” said Morikawa, who finished fourth in Tokyo, losing in a seven-man, sudden-death playoff for the bronze medal on the fourth extra hole. “Caddies are definitely going to scout the course together, they’re going to do you all the prep together, a lot of sharing information, just as if it were a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup kind of in that sense. But when it comes down to it on Thursday, it’s our event, it’s our own individual event.”

That doesn’t mean there’s no patriotism involved.

“I’m not necessarily going to go out and try to play too many practice rounds with somebody from a different country,” said Scheffler, who will be making his Olympic debut and confessed he hadn’t really thought about it. “We’re trying to go over there and earn a medal for the USA so it will probably be a closer-knit circle as we go over there.”

The rankings to determine Olympic spots were finalized with the conclusion of the U.S. Open. Countries are limited to two players, unless their third- and fourth-best players are ranked within the top 15 in the world.

Golf was in the Olympics early in the last century before it was dropped from the program for more than 100 years. It returned in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, making this the third go-round.

Scheffler said he is excited to be a part of the Summer Games and check out other sports, including basketball and tennis. He also wanted to make a trip to the Olympic Village to watch the other athletes train.

“I grew up playing a ton of sports, and so to be able to see the best in the world at their craft would be pretty special,” he said.

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games