4-time major winner rips PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan over LIV deal

The refrain of calls against the leadership of the PGA Tour is rising louder.

Ernie Els was the newest participant to voice his displeasure with the Tour’s management within the wake of the bombshell framework settlement between the Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund (PIF). Speaking to Sports Illustrated‘s Bob Hairy after his first spherical on the Open Championship, Els stated Monahan would’ve been changed throughout his prime within the 90s and 2000s.

“If this occurred in my day, in my prime, there’s no manner he’s round,” Els instructed Harig. “No manner. And the board has to alter. You do s— like this. I’m sorry, it’s not proper. Speak to us, inform us what you’re going to do, plan on negotiating. Don’t simply go rogue as a member of the board and are available again with a deal and assume we’re all going to say sure? You’re affecting individuals’s lives. You’re affecting the skilled sport. It’s simply so dangerous.”

Because the deal was unveiled in a shocking announcement in early June, a number of gamers have expressed frustrations with Monahan and the remainder of PGA Tour management over the key nature by which the deal took place. Final week, Xander Schauffele said Monahan has “a lot less” of his trust now.

Others, like Jon Rahm, have expressed their support for the embattled commissioner.

Monahan and PGA Tour Coverage board members Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy spearheaded the deal, which additionally included the DP World Tour, that ended all litigation between the 2 Excursions and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf.

Below the framework settlement, which has not but been authorised by the PGA Tour board or handed any federal regulatory hurdles, the three entities would mix their operations beneath a brand new for-profit firm tentatively known as PGA Tour Enterprises.

Different particulars are nonetheless scarce however Els, a 19-time PGA Tour winner and two-time Open champion, was upset over how little the gamers have been concerned within the negotiations.

“For these guys (the PGA Tour management) to go on the market and do what they did, simply off the cuff, as a board member, do a deal, no person is aware of,” the World Golf Corridor-of-Famer instructed Harig. “The commissioner is meant to be the man operating our Tour. These board members make a deal or a so-called deal and with no enter from the gamers. It’s absolute shambles. I’m fearful.”

Els isn’t essentially towards the deal, saying the Tour ought to finalize the settlement as a result of the Saudis can inject tons of cash into the Tour, however he additionally believes the legacy {of professional} golf hangs within the stability with the deal.

“I spent virtually 30 years on Tour, enjoying towards Tiger … individuals don’t point out me however I used to be there, he wanted anyone to beat,” Els instructed Harig. “There’s a whole lot of guys who did lots for this Tour; they helped the Tour and helped construct the sport. Are you kidding me? After which this b——-.”

You can read the full AND interview here.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf group and nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He might be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.