PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan reveals what caused absence after LIV Golf deal

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has admitted 'anxiety' induced his medical leave in the immediate aftermath of announcing an about-face management policy on 6 June by partnering with LIV Golf's Saudi backers. 

Monahan, 53, met with a pool of reporters on 9 August ahead of the first leg of the 2023 FedEx Cup playoffs. 

It was shortly after he chaired a meeting that, according to reports, wasn't well attended. 

Although Rory McIlroy did eventually turn up. 

As for Monahan, the under fire commish stated that he had massive regrets over how the LIV Golf announcement was handled. 

If he had his time over, he said, he would've flown to the Canadian Open and met with the players beforehand. 

Documents released as part of the US Senate's probe into the agreement show that Monahan had planned to call both Tiger Woods and McIlroy ahead of the announcement.

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Woods has now joined the PGA Tour's policy board. "Woods doesn't do anything lightly," Monahan said, although he did concede this was a position the big cat has held unofficially for some time. 

Monahan said of his health issues:

Monahan also told members of the media that should their negotiations with the Saudi PIF over the 'framework agreement' not be successful then 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it'. 

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF have until the end of the year to finalise the arrangement. 

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