The commissioner of the most important US golf tour had spoken of a “historic day” on Tuesday. What was meant was the announced agreement between the three major series to bring global golf under one roof and to standardize it – including a jointly coordinated tournament program. All legal disputes are thus ended.
In the past, Monahan had sharply attacked the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV series. Players who migrated there lost their right to start on the PGA or the World Tour, the former European Tour. In the previous year, the 53-year-old had said: “As long as I am PGA commissioner, no player who has taken LIV money will ever play on the PGA tour again.” According to the new agreement, LIV golfers a return procedure has now been developed.
Excitement over merger of professional golf series
There is excitement in golf after the completely unexpected merger of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with the previously enemy LIV Tour, financed from Saudi Arabia. Many are stunned.
“I guess money always wins”
The prospect of billions in investments by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF may have caused the rethinking. At the meeting with the players on the sidelines of the Canadian Open in Toronto, which is part of the PGA Tour and starts on Thursday – where Matthias Schwab also tees off – Monahan had to put up with the accusation of hypocrisy on Tuesday. There was also talk of calls for resignation.
“Explain to me why Jay Monahan was basically promoted to CEO of all world golf by taking back everything he’s said for the past two years,” said Toronto starter Dylan Wu (USA). “I guess money always wins.” The PGA boss said he accepts the criticism. “I know people will call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said. “But circumstances are changing.”
Approval among LIV golfers
The athletes of the previous competition tour LIV were pleased to note this. US veteran Phil Mickelson spoke of a “great day”. Fellow countryman Bryson DeChambeau showed sympathy for the anger felt by PGA athletes who have remained loyal and given up the big bucks. “You were told something and something else happened. And we were told something, and it has now come true.”
The agreement also came as a surprise to Wiesberger, but the development is positive for the Burgenlander. “I’m looking forward to hopefully supporting the DP World Tour again soon in addition to my LIV participation.” After all, it was always the intention to play on both tours, explained his brother Niki. “Bernd has not ended his membership either, unlike others like Sergio Garcia. He is hoping for a constructive solution for the entire sport of golf and is full of expectations for what is to come.” PGA player Schwab made a similar statement. He welcomes “everything that could help golf to advance worldwide”. The 28-year-old hopes that the quarrels are over and that we are now talking to each other “for the good of the cause instead of working against each other”.
However, a lot is still unclear. According to Monahan, the agreement represents only a framework in which many aspects still need to be worked out. In addition to the entire contractual, organizational and financial construction, this primarily affects the integration process of the golfers on the various tours and the tournament calendar including the Ryder Cup.
Also political explosiveness
Meanwhile, another front has opened up for Monahan in the United States. The group “9/11 Families United” was shocked and outraged by the announced agreement. “Saudi agents played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now they fund all professional golf,” the statement said.
No good hair was left on the Commissioner. He had agreed last year that the LIV project was “nothing other than sports washing”. “But now the PGA and Monahan appear to be just paid Saudi stooges, taking billions to cleanse Saudi Arabia’s reputation.”