PGA Tour boss stares down reporter over Jon Rahm LIV Golf question

PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan clearly wasn't too pleased to be asked about Jon Rahm's defection to LIV Golf ahead of the Players. 

Monahan met with the media on 12 March before the landmark 50th edition of the tournament at TPC Sawgrass. 

For more than 50 minutes, Monahan spoke on a range of topics and the biggest claim was unsurprising. 

Monahan said the Tour's negotiations with the PIF of Saudi Arabia to ratify last June's framework agreement are 'accelerating'. 

The PGA Tour boss - also unsurprisingly -  declined to get into specifics. And he also didn't want to touch the subject of Rahm. 

Or the subject of how the Tour would handle LIV players returning should they want to. 

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Rahm's move to LIV last December for a rumoured $500m coincided with the Tour opening up negotiations with US-based private equity investors. 

The move was widely seen as PIF officials reminding the Tour they aren't going anywhere. 

"It's a nice play by them," Jordan Spieth remarked at the time of his move. 

Rahm has since conceded the Tour opening up discussions with the PIF made it easier for him to take the money. 

And some have suggested that he lost faith in the Tour's leadership amid the battle with LIV. 

A reporter asked Monahan: "Jon Rahm clearly lost faith in some sense. What was your reaction?

"We haven't talked to you since he left. He's a top three player in the world, reigning Masters champion, decides to leave.

"And also do you expect there to be more poaching of top talent while this negotiation is still ongoing?

Monahan replied: "I'm focused on every single member of the PGA Tour. I'm focused on the Players Championship this week.

"I'm focused on the great season that we have ahead, and we have made tremendous progress with the SSG agreement that we have, putting ourselves in a position to invest back in our Tour, invest back in our fans, and I'm going to focus on the things that I control and we are as an organization and we are as a leadership team and we are as a board, so that's when I'm focused on."

A follow was put to Monahan: "Are you concerned that more players are going while the negotiations are going on?"

To which Monahan clearly wasn't too happy. 

He responded curtly: "I just answered your question about what my focus is."

Watch the moment here:

Here is Jay Monahan being asked about Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour and a follow up about whether he's concerned about more players leaving during negotiations. pic.twitter.com/Ajqr1mQQOY

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) March 12, 2024

Before he left his annual news conference, Monahan also declined to speculate on what happens in men's professional golf should a deal with the PIF fall through.

"I guess I'll answer that question if a deal isn't concluded," he said. 

What did you make of Monahan's press conference? Did he answer your questions?

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