Rory Mcilroy and Jay Monahan have trust issues in golf’s big divide
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. >> The obnoxious money ruining golf was sure to create trust issues with the leadership, and that lingers even as PGA Tour Enterprises is now flush with cash from its new minority investor.
Now it might be a question of who has lost the locker room: Jay Monahan or Rory Mcilroy?
How much Monahan has fallen out of favor as commissioner depends on who gets asked. The Associated Press spoke with 22 players during the Hawaii swing and their opinions were as varied as their status on tour.
Most — not all — said the outcome of any deal probably would affect how they felt about Monahan staying in his job.
The first part of the deal — maybe the only part if the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia loses interest — was announced last Wednesday, worth up to $3 billion. Half of that is geared toward equity ownership for the players.
Still to come are the details.
Keep in mind, players are still reeling from Monahan’s secret deal with PIF — the financial lifeline of LIV Golf — that was announced June 6 and floored them after so much anti-liv rhetoric. Word is it even left Jordan Spieth speechless.
That was followed by six months of players feeling they were left in the dark on the negotiations with PIF and private equity groups.
“If the deal comes through and people are happy, there will be probably more grace for what happened,” Nick Taylor said. “But for what happened (secret negotiations with PIF), it’s going to take a lot to forget about that. Maybe not forget, but forgive.”
Brian Harman felt Monahan deserved a long rope because of how expertly he guided the PGA Tour in its return from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I have a lot of confidence in Jay. This has been an incredibly difficult hand he’s been dealt,” Harman said. “I don’t envy his position.”
Xander Schauffele thinks it’s time for new leadership, and he was hopeful the new investor (Strategic Sports Group) would feel the same way.
“They have to show the players change is coming for the better, and not this sort of stale sandwich we’ve been eating for quite some time,” Schauffele said.