Should the PGA Tour’s boss keep his job? Players, coaches have thoughts

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Sean Foley, one in every of golf’s extra personable personalities, was answering a query on one in every of golf’s greatest subjects when a professional walked previous, on the vary at TPC Southwind, and whispered howdy. Foley then advised him what he was speaking about. 

There was a brief pause. And the PGA Tour participant then provided this recommendation:   

“Duck, dodge, weave.” 

Such is life in males’s professional golf as of late. Yes, the topic of Jay Monahan is akin to a recreation of dodgeball. Or possibly it’s a boxing match. Or possibly it’s escaping a burning constructing. 

How did we get right here? How a lot time do you have? Notably, it’s all gone down simply over the previous year-plus, although it’s actually picked up over the previous two months. Here’s a par-3-length recap (and we’ll present the crucial hyperlinks): The Tour and LIV Golf, funded by the deep-pocketed Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, have fought for gamers and status since final June. Words, a lot of them, have been mentioned. Money, numerous it, was handed out. But that was nothing. A faucet-in. Because right here got here the bombshells.

At the begin of June, Monahan and the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, have been sitting side-by-side on CNBC saying they have been now bedfellows and that the sides would finish all pending litigation. And most of the gamers discovered about it once you did. And particulars have been scarce, although questions have been bountiful. A participant assembly was held in Canada. And Monahan took a depart resulting from a yet-to-be disclosed well being concern. And a listening to was held in the halls of Congress. And Tiger Woods tweeted. And Monahan returned, although he mentioned the golf conflict had taken some toll. And Monahan despatched a memo providing some element of the deal. And the gamers wrote a letter demanding extra say. And a day later, they acquired it.    

Whew. 

And now it’s week one in every of the Tour playoffs, at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Where, in any case that above, there’s one topic a minimum of being considered:

Should Monahan keep his job?

Really? Take this quote, from Xander Schauffele, one in every of the finest in the world, ultimately month’s Scottish Open:

“If you want to call it one of the rockier times on Tour, the guy was supposed to be there for us, wasn’t. Obviously he had some health issues. I’m glad that he said he’s feeling much better. But yeah, I’d say he has a lot of tough questions to answer in his return, and yeah, I don’t trust people easily. He had my trust and he has a lot less of it now. So I don’t stand alone when I say that.”

That’s telling. That’s damning. 

So two large questions, together with a pair others, have been requested Tuesday. 

Notably, gamers met with Monahan right here at 4 in the afternoon, although not all went, which you’ll be taught. 

Considering the whole lot that’s occurred over the previous two months, do you assume Jay Monahan ought to keep his job?

“I think I made my stance on that at The Open clear,” Jon Rahm, Masters winner and world No. 3, mentioned throughout his formal, pre-tournament press convention. “I feel he ought to have the alternative proper now to complete this off the means he did. I feel we’re rapidly forgetting how properly he managed numerous issues. He did an incredible job in Covid and stored lots of people employed. We have been the first main sport to return again. I do know UFC was doing fights, however we have been the main sport to return again.

“Numerous gamers have been in a position to earn their playing cards and keep competing because of that. I feel we shouldn’t neglect that that rapidly. Again, we must always give him the likelihood to see this via.

Then after the whole lot is alleged and completed, if gamers wish to make a change, then that may be a greater time, however proper now, I don’t assume it’s.”

If you had the likelihood to ask one query or make one change, what would that be?

“That’s too imprecise of a query as a result of we actually have no concept what’s coming. We’re not in these conferences. They have till January to be in these negotiations.

“I can let you know proper now my priorities are lots decrease than what lots of people would assume. If I have to — if I’m going by request — I do know that is going to sound very silly, however so simple as having a freaking Port-a-Potty on each gap — I do know it sounds loopy, however I can’t select after I have to go to the toilet. I’ve advised the Tour this many occasions, so simple as that.

“Just easy little issues higher for the Tour. Even although they do an outstanding job all through the 12 months, simply making it extra constant. Those TPC occasions, as a result of the PGA Tour is extra concerned, our meals scenario is unbelievable. They have nutritionists that they’ve employed to work with and the choices and the sources are unbelievable, so I wish to see that extra throughout the board at each single Tour occasion.

“I wish to see physio areas to be a bit of bit higher. Even although the health club trailer is nice, it’s nonetheless a trailer, so once you have three individuals in it you’re a bit of crowded, so seeing higher exercise amenities, as properly.

“Those are the sort of issues that I hope come out all through this complete factor.

“I’ve mentioned many times making the Tour better for the players, and I mean that. The very basic things they can do in tournaments to make them all as good as they can be is where I’d like to see some changes. Everything else can come out afterwards, but I’m not so worried about purses and bonuses and those things. I think giving us the best amenities possible is one of those things that should be a concern. That’s at least a lot of things I keep going to with them. It’s not usually what’s in people’s minds.”

Given the whole lot that’s occurred over the previous two months, do you assume that Jay Monahan ought to keep his job?

“I think Jay is a very qualified leader for our organizations,” Brian Harman, the Open Championship winner, mentioned throughout his formal, pre-tournament press convention. “Without Jay Monahan, I don’t know if we make it via Covid. His management and his bravery via that — we have been the solely sport working, and I can keep in mind we have been on the vary and in Connecticut, and it’s peak Covid, and there was guys that have been taking place left and proper, like this man is constructive.

“The world was scared, we have been all scared, and we hear Jay is flying up, and I’m like, properly, that’s it, we tried, he’s going to close it down. He will get up there in entrance of everyone and plows forward. He caught warmth for that. He’s like, no, that is the means ahead. We have to remain working or we’re going to be toast, and he was proper.

“I think Jay deserves a pretty long leash.”

If you could possibly make a request or make a change proper now, what would that be?

“In what regard, to the Tour or to golf?”

To the Tour, to the construction of the Tour, going ahead with the proposed deal.

“I’d like for us to have access to cold plunges in the locker room. That would be the change I’d like.”

With the assembly at this time with Jay, what one query would you have for him, or what one element would you wish to know?

“Yeah, I feel an necessary query is I consider that Jay had final authority always so far as negotiating and stuff like that, and he knew that his popularity was going to take a significant hit in the event that they went ahead. My query would simply be, why didn’t he cease it, figuring out that his popularity was going to take a success.

Why did he …

“Why did he let it continue. In my mind, I think he believed that it was the best thing going forward, and that’s why he did it.”

Do you assume Monahan ought to keep his job?

“To be honest with you, I don’t have enough facts on it to have any opinion,” mentioned Foley, one in every of Woods’ former coaches and one in every of golf’s finest instructors. “I’m an open-minded Canadian child who likes to usually speak about what I do know to be true and never what I feel is going on. Look, I feel at the finish of the day, that the PGA Tour is at the place that it’s at now in the final 20 years financially and is as large of a recreation as it’s is due to the child in the crimson shirt from California. So I’m not so positive if the selections that, with out Tiger, the place are we? I don’t actually have an opinion on that. One, it doesn’t have an effect on me, and two, I’m by no means stunned in the world of cash and enterprise when issues aren’t as they appear. Pretty regular, isn’t it? But I’ve identified Jay for a very long time. I’ve at all times thought him to be an upstanding man. I’ve at all times loved my time with him. So I don’t know what works behind the scenes on some of these issues. 

If you have been PGA Tour commissioner proper now, what change would you make? What concepts would you have? What would you do otherwise?

“I don’t know. I feel they do a fairly good job. When you’re coping with energy and also you’re coping with funds, it’s sort of robust, proper? And who is aware of what’s behind all that. Money talks and bulls**t walks, so to talk, proper? But no, I feel the PGA Tour does an excellent job. I feel the gamers do a fairly good job; , guys who’re particular person sports activities guys. So yeah, I don’t actually have something so as to add to that, both. I feel that’s extra ask the gamers, . …

“So yeah, as it relates to Jay, no comment. As it relates to what the Tour is doing, I just really focus on my guys and don’t pay attention to the rest of what’s going on around me. But I see all the fans week to week. Seems like people enjoy it. I think you got between Scheffler and Schauffele, you got so many great players right now. I think the Tour is only as good as the players.” 

I requested Jon Rahm the query in his press convention. His reply, he needs there have been extra port-a-johns on the course. That was … a request. 

“Well, he’s probably made some bogies having to take a p**s. I mean, if you ever had to play golf and you really have to take a p**s, it’s pretty tricky, right? Yeah, port-a-john, that’s pretty funny. Nah, as it relates to me, I don’t need to eat in player dining. I just need a place to go inside when it gets nasty outside, you know.” 

With at this time’s gamers assembly, do you assume Jay Monahan ought to keep his job? I do know it’s an out-of-the-blue, excessive query. 

“Yeah, there’s a lot of things going on that I still don’t know about and understand completely,” mentioned Russell Henley, whereas strolling to the observe inexperienced. “I don’t really know if I’m qualified to answer right now.” 

If there have been a query that you could possibly ask, what would that be?

“How can we get everybody on the same page?”

If you could possibly make one change or one request, what would that be?

“Get everybody on the same page.” 

Do you assume Monahan ought to keep his job?

“I haven’t really gotten into much of this, and again, I feel like there’s more people who are more qualified and looked at all this stuff to make these decisions,” mentioned Sahith Theegala, after a session on the driving vary. “It would be nice to have a lot more communication, I suppose. But again, I’m new on Tour and just kind of go with the flow, but I think he’s done so much good for the Tour that he definitely needs a chance — I’m not saying he did something wrong, but clearly there’s a little bit of disconnect. I think he’s done so much great for the Tour that — I think Jon Rahm actually mentioned that it’s easy to forget all the good things he’s done because of what has happened just recently. The hope is that he earns the trust back of a lot of guys that maybe have lost a little bit of that. But I think he’s done such a good job in the past that there’s no reason he can’t do a job moving forward. I’ll be interested to what other people have to say because Jay’s been great to me and been great to the players and I know there’s so much stuff circulating about being selfish or looking out for himself, but I really think his best interests are the players. I just hope that’s being conveyed a little bit better.” 

How do you assume he earns again belief? I do know that’s a sophisticated query.

“Again, I don’t know all the business stuff, what goes on, like why decisions were made. There’s for sure reasons and I think there’s just a lot of speculation and there might always be speculation. I don’t really know.” 

What can be a change that you’d make, like when you have been in that place to say, let’s do that; one thing is missing proper now?

“Again, it’s so easy to — like, I’ve only been on Tour for two years — this is my second year — so I just know what I’ve dealt with and now what other people have dealt with. And as far as I’m concerned, things have been really great. There’s more flexibility in the schedule, there’s more money being pumped in the purses. There’s more direct interaction between players and fans. I think there’s a lot of really good stuff. Obviously there’s never going to be a perfect product — it just doesn’t exist. Look at every sports league in the world — there’s not a perfect product. I think as long as we’re making progress towards acknowledging what players feel like are shortcomings of the Tour — the schedule, or week-to-week basis, or day-to-day basis, whatever.”

With at this time’s participant assembly with Jay …

“I’m not going,” Jason Day mentioned, whereas strolling to the 1st tee.  

Could I ask one other query on that matter: Do you assume Jay ought to keep his job?

“Oh, that’s not my decision. I have opinions, but I’m not going to get into that just because like — I definitely have opinions about it, but I’d rather not say something that’s out in the open and potentially down the road could lead to some scrutiny. And then obviously down the road you’re walking back your comments, so I would just rather stay quiet on it and let some of the other guys be more vocal about it. And to be honest, all I want to do is try and win tournaments. I think that at the end of the day, like if I can win tournaments, like I just have to get involved in my own little world. Because it is a distraction.” 

Do you assume that’s sort of bizarre now with a few of the off-the-course stuff once you guys are right here to do the job?

“I think for some guys it could potentially be more of a distraction than some other guys. Like some other guys actually are on the board and have the insight of what’s going on. And then there’s some guys that are more vocal. And rightfully so. With what’s transpired, I feel for obviously the guys on both sides, as well. I think for us to be talking about it when my say is very small, and although I feel like everyone’s say is very, very valuable out here — and you got to understand that I was under the rule of Tim Finchem and it is was more of like, hey, this is what we’re doing as a Tour instead of like listening to the players, and now I think Jay is more of a listen to the players and get them more involved. I really kind of stayed out of it. I really haven’t paid too much attention to it, even though I kind of hear the rumblings of it all.”   

Do you assume he ought to keep his job based mostly on what’s occurred over the previous couple of months. 

“Oh, I don’t want to talk about that stuff,” mentioned Boyd Summerhays, Tony Finau’s coach, after a spread session. “I’d ask the players on that. I’d just rather stay out of that. Ask him [Finau]. I think the top players’ comments say it all, you know what I mean. … If someone is going to say it, I think it needs to be these guys.” 

With seemingly the whole lot on the desk, would there be one thing from a training standpoint that might change or is missing or is lacking? If you have been Tour commissioner, what can be one thing you would possibly wish to repair, or change or modify?

“Oh, I think the coaches get treated good. … I would say there’s no Tour coaches without Tour pros so I’ve always felt like I’ve been treated good. But you get some guys that don’t feel that way, which kind of surprises me because we’re eating right down there; I mean, we parked right down next to the clubhouse. I feel like as far as a coach situation that they take good care of us. I know the players expect a lot because hey, they’re the talent and all that. But the coaches aren’t the talent. So when a coach doesn’t feel about it, they may be coming from a different space. I’ve only coached for nine years. Some of the other coaches probably have seen the changes over the years. … I think from a coaching and caddie perspective, I would be surprised if there would be complaining, but people always do. But I feel like they do a really good job, I really do.” 

With all that’s gone on over the previous two months, do you assume he ought to keep his job?

“I think me or the players shouldn’t be in that position to force whether he should or whether he shouldn’t,” Aaron Rai mentioned forward of a spread session. “I think our job is to play golf and do the best we can on the golf course. He has that position. He’s more than qualified in that position. And we all make great calls and we all make calls that might not seem right, but they might turn out in the future to be great. And I think it’s too early to say right now whether this is the right thing or whether it’s not. No one can say that, because there’s so much yet to be finalized the way things are going, so I think it’s premature either way to make any knee-jerk reactions on whether Jay should be here, whether Jay shouldn’t. I think he’s done amazingly through his whole tenure of being here. That should always count for something. And like I said, I think it’s too early to know how things are going to play out. Yeah, that’s not something I would push for in any way.” 

If you have been PGA Tour commissioner, what can be one factor you’d change?

“That’s a tough question.” 

So I requested Jon Rahm that earlier at this time, he mentioned he wish to see a port-a-john on each gap. 

“I’ll second that truly. That’s an excellent suggestion.   

“I feel that — I don’t know what this might appear to be; simply sort of considering out loud right here — however we see the place skilled golf and prize cash is part of tournaments and a part of the motive we’re right here, however I feel lately, it’s gone down the route of more cash and extra give attention to funds and so forth and so forth, and that’s an necessary half; I’m not saying it’s not. But I feel extra give attention to golf, extra give attention to the tales, extra give attention to the gamers, extra give attention to the inspiration that’s out right here. Everyone right here on this driving vary and everybody out right here this week and everybody a part of the PGA Tour, everybody has a singular story, everybody has a background. There’s numerous motivation that may be discovered that may be present in all these issues. So I feel if a few of these issues have been highlighted extra, I feel you could possibly have a much bigger have an effect on on the affect of golf, each inside the recreation and outdoors the recreation, versus possibly extra of the shift being on cash, funds and enterprise construction, which once more is a part of the motive for this merger. 

“So I’m not saying that’s right or that is wrong, but I think more focus on all the stories that are out here, which would be amazing, rather than the things that are highlighted in the media.”