PGA Tour policy board member: Patrick Cantlay rumour 'not wildly inaccurate'

PGA Tour policy board member Joe Ogilvie says the rumour Patrick Cantlay wields a great deal of influence isn't too far wide of the mark. 

Ogilvie made the admission in an extensive Q&A with Golfweek's Eamon Lynch, which you can read here. 

There were a number of bombshells across the interview. 

The retired golfer claimed: 

• It's a fair statement to suggest the policy board is 'dysfunctional' and 'divided'
• Jimmy Dunne's decision to quit the board is ultimately a good thing
• More resignations could follow
• He hopes Rory McIlroy will one day return to the board
• Player directors were unsure how to greet LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan when they met him for the first time in March
• Human rights issues were not talked about with Al-Rumayyan
• He believes the PGA Tour and PIF ultimately want to come to an agreement
• Current PGA Tour members are failing to grasp what it means to go from a non-profit to a for-profit business
• He believes PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan wishes he had a 'one-year mulligan' after bungling the 6 June 2023 framework agreement announcement
• It would be better for the business if PGA Tour players were contracted, although it is unlikely to happen

Ogilvie also spoke of Cantlay. 

He described the 32-year-old as someone who rarely speaks. 

But when he does, you take notice given his 'strong' opinions. 

Lynch was behind the initial report last year that suggested the American was staging an 'artless coup d'état'. 

The claim led to Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and Will Zalatoris making public statements defending Cantlay. 

"Perhaps some proof rather than faceless speculation," blasted Fowler. 

Other players, such as Jordan Spieth, found the suggestion funny that Cantlay had 'taken control'. 

Spieth previously told the AP he found the idea Cantlay was attempting to snatch power 'a lot funnier than Pat did'. 

"I believe he's done more for the PGA Tour in the last six months on the board than anyone since Tiger. That's how great he's been for the membership," Spieth previously said.

"It's like he's the biggest issue and it couldn't be further from the truth."

For his part Cantlay also cast a dim view of the claims levelled against him. 

He previously told GOLF it was impossible for any one player to take charge. 

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet," he said. 

"I think if you just look at the facts that are out there, it would be impossible for any one player to take control,” he said. 

"I mean, it would be impossible for all the players together to take control; we only have half the seats on the board, and any major vote around any of the things we’ve been talking about requires a two-thirds majority."

Ogilvie told Golfweek the perception of Cantlay isn't wildly inaccurate. 

Just very inaccurate. 

"Patrick’s obviously a voice," he said.  

"When he speaks, and he doesn’t speak very often, he carries a lot of weight. But I’ve only been on the board since March 9. 

"Patrick is incredibly detail-oriented. I joked with him one time that if he wasn’t a professional golfer he could be a distressed debt investor and probably make more money. 

"He remembers facts and he’s a bulldog. He has strong opinions. I've read what’s been said, about he’s controlling the board and all that kind of stuff. 

"I don't want to say it’s wildly inaccurate, but I would say it’s very inaccurate."

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