Former Ryder Cupper puts PGA Tour boss on full blast: "He's lost control"
PGA Tour pro and former Ryder Cupper Hunter Mahan has called on commissioner Jay Monahan to resign from his role.
Multiple PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan has claimed the top stars want Jay Monahan to resign despite ongoing negotiations to ratify the framework agreement with LIV Golf's financiers.
Mahan claimed in an interview with bunkered it is wrong to suggest the PGA Tour boss is acting on the players' behalf.
The PGA Tour commissioner reportedly met with representatives of Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund in Riyadh last week.
The timing of his trip couldn't have been worse from a PR standpoint.
In an explosive report by The Athletic, Yasir Al Rumayyan - the governor of the PIF, de facto head of LIV and potential chairman of the newly-created PGA Tour Enterprises - has been accused of carrying out instructions from Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman with 'malicious intent'.
That allegation was uncovered via an £58m lawsuit filed in Canada.
Among other things, it is alleged a former Saudi intelligence officer's children have been unlawfully detained by the Saudi government.
Clearly this is a problem for Monahan and the PGA Tour.
It appears the North American circuit is faced with two options: strike an agreement with an alleged kidnapper and end the disruption in men's professional golf or reignite the so-called 'civil war'.
In many ways it could be argued he simply cannot win.
Mahan told bunkered: "Jay's trying to pump the ship up after he just grounded it into the dock and destroyed everything.
"He's trying to repaint everything and make it look as new. It's a lot of 'say one thing – and do another.'
"It's a lot of 'it's a players tour' but the players aren't notified when the changes are made. I don't know how he can continue with what's going on.
"The players are realising they've had limited powers.
"They should have representation in these meetings. If (Monahan's) over there talking to Yasir – what! Who is there on our behalf?
"We act like Jay is acting on the players' behalf and it's just not true.
"Who is there for the players and why aren't they having a real say? He's lost control of the situation."
He continued: "The players are speaking out aggressively like I've never seen before.
"PGA Tour players don't put their opinions out there. They're very political and just want to go play golf, earn money and compete.
"But now everyone's like: 'He's got to go.' Multiple top players think this is wrong.
"They've done a really bad job of seeing the landscape and not adapting to it.
"They're just reacting and they didn't take it serious and aggressively.
"I don't think there's any doubt that Jay's going to lose his job.
"He's not going to get fired, but he'll step down. They're going to have to look for new leadership."
Despite the harsh criticism from Mahan, Monahan does have some defenders.
Jon Rahm threw his support behind the embattled commissioner before the 151st Open last July.
"I would say it was unexpected what happened," Rahm said in reference to the 6 June framework agreement announcement that blindsided world of professional sport.
"The turn they took without us knowing was very unexpected, but I still think he's been doing a great job.
"And right now, after that happened, I only think it's fair to give them the right time to work things out."
Monahan et al have been given time.
The most recent update into the PGA Tour-PIF negotiations was that it is hoped a deal would be agreed before the first major of the year.
PGA Tour policy board member Webb Simpson stated in a recent interview an agreement could be announced in the next few weeks.
"We're close," he said.
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