Els: Monahan would have been out of a job in my day
Ernie Els has questioned why PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is still in a job after a merger with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund that the four-time major winner labelled “an absolute shambles”.
Monahan has returned to the United States circuit hot seat this week following a four-week break with “a medical condition” the 53-year-old sustained in the wake of last month’s shock announcement.
Tour players have criticised Monahan for blindsiding members with the unexpected alliance after two years of civil war, with world No6 Xander Schauffele last week claiming that a lot of his colleagues had “lost trust” in his leadership and that “he has a lot of tough questions to answer on his return”.
But after his first-round 75 in the Open, Els went further in his anger. Only “a framework agreement” has been signed between the respective parties – also including the DP World Tour – and the players remain in the dark about the details as negotiations take place.
“If this happened in my day, in my prime, there’s no way he’s around,” the South African said, after Sports Illustrated asked him about Monahan. “No way. And the board has to change. You do s--- like this. I’m sorry, it’s not right. Talk to us, tell us what you’re going to do, plan on negotiating.
“Don’t just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we’re all going to say yes. You’re affecting people’s lives. You’re affecting the professional game. It’s just so bad.
“And for these guys [the PGA Tour leadership] to go out there and do what they did, just off the cuff... these board members make a deal or a so-called deal and with no input from the players? It’s an absolute shambles. I’m worried.”