PGA Tour winner rips (!) into commissioner after entering LIV Golf Q-School
PGA Tour winner Chris Stroud has heavily criticised Jay Monahan as he explained his reasons for entering LIV Golf's qualifying school event.
PGA Tour winner Chris Stroud has torn into commissioner Jay Monahan as he explained his reasons for entering into LIV Golf Promotions.
Stroud, 41, is a 41-year-old Tour pro whose biggest career moment is undoubtedly winning the 2017 Barracuda Championship.
He now risks getting fined by the PGA Tour after entering into the breakaway tour's version of qualifying school over 8-10 December.
There was ambiguity over whether PGA Tour members would get sanctioned for entering into LIV Golf Promotions without a tournament release.
Initially, it was reported the PGA Tour wouldn't hand down fines but as the deadline for registration neared the circuit appeared to make a U-turn.
The rival league announced the full field for the 72-hole qualifier on 30 November.
Alongside Stroud, 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner is in the field alongside former U.S. Ryder Cup member Jeff Overton.
Stroud told Golf Channel the PGA Tour 'doesn't care about you' unless you're a top 30 player. "I needed to take care of myself," he explained.
He said: "The Tour has built this bad culture. I love [Jay Monahan], but the Tour has never tried to give back to the players, we've never had a voice. So, Jay has had a free hand to do whatever he wants.
"I believe [Monahan] and a lot of people at the Tour genuinely care about us, but the system has never been set up to help the players.
"The Tour has taken all this extra money and not spread it out properly. I've talked to so many players about this and the answer is always, we need to be unionized."
He added: "I've learned this over 16 years on Tour, every single year I see more unhappy players — and players on LIV are happy.
"I talked to Marc Leishman today and he said the team aspect is fun, but the coolest part is these people care about us.
"I go straight to LIV, without question [give up his Tour status]. Even if it were just for one year it would be worth it because the Tour has done everything wrong.
"If they say I can't be on the PGA Tour, that's fine. I love the PGA Tour and what it stands for but I'm so unimpressed with how everything has transpired the last three years."
Stroud's comments come as Monahan has provided an update into the latest negotiations with LIV Golf's Saudi financiers.
In a rare interview, Monahan explained the 31 December deadline for the framework agreement to be ratified is a 'firm target'.
He also addressed past issues with his mental health after events of the last 18 months have taken their toll on the commissioner.
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