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 season-closing 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.”
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
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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…
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