Under fire PGA Tour boss drops bombshell (!) memo about LIV Golf defectors
PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan has outlined a series of measures going forward relating to the 6 June LIV Golf/PIF peace deal.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has dropped a bombshell memo to players ahead of this week's 3M Open, outlining a 'taskforce' has been created to determine what penalties LIV Golf pros will face should they wish to return.
Monahan appeared persona non grata after it was announced on 6 June the PGA Tour, European DP World Tour and LIV Golf's backers, the Saudi PIF, had struck what is now being vaguely referred to as a 'framework agreement'.
It was a simply mind-boggling announcement given the two organisations had spent the better part of a year involved in litigation that ran into the millions.
That was simply something the North American circuit couldn't continue to do, according to two PGA Tour execs, and they waited until they were in the 'strongest possible position' legally to open peace talks.
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Days before the 2023 U.S. Open Monahan stepped away from his day-to-day duties owing to an unexplained health condition.
In the interim Monahan had faced calls to resign. 'The players are done with Jay," multiple PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan said.
It should be noted that Monahan has backing from high-profile figures such as Jon Rahm, who praised Monahan before the 151st Open.
Monahan returned to work on 17 July and now has written a lengthy memo that was distributed to tour members this week.
The tour boss announced:
- Initiatives for a 'player benefit program' to compensate those who remained with the tour
- 'Player discipline' for LIV Golf members seeking to return
- A task force to deal with what sanctions LIV pros should face
According to Golf Digest, Monahan also confirmed the PGA Tour would not abide by a modified local rule from the USGA and R&A to curb distance.
Monahan wrote to the players:
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