Jay Monahan is temporarily stepping down from PGA Tour Commissioner duties after struggling with health issues… a week after the merger with LIV Golf, which will see Ron Price and Tyler Dennis take over their post
- Neither the tour nor Monahan went into detail about his health
- Monahan has faced heavy criticism following its merger with LIV Golf
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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has temporarily resigned due to health reasons.
As shock news, a joint statement from Monahan and the tour was released late Tuesday night.
Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and Executive Vice President Tyler Dennis will largely share responsibility.
“Jay Monahan has notified the PGA TOUR Policy Board that he is recovering from a medical condition.
“The Board of Directors is fully supportive of Jay and appreciates that everyone respects their privacy.” During Jay’s absence, Ron Price, Chief Operating Officer, and Tyler Dennis, Executive Vice President & President, PGA TOUR, with the support of the amazing team, will be the Jay, directing the day-to-day operations of the PGA TOUR and ensuring smooth continuity. We will provide further updates as needed.’
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is no longer the head of the hard-pressed organization after resigning for unspecified medical reasons
Tyler Dennis and Ron Price will largely share the temporary position in Monahan’s absence
Monahan’s medical situation comes a week after Monahan stunned the golfing world by announcing that the PGA Tour has ended its battle with the Public Investment Fund and LIV Golf by agreeing to a commercial partnership.
Monahan, 53, spent nearly two months working on the deal with two PGA Tour board members, investment banker Jimmy Dunne and New York attorney Ed Herlihy, unbeknownst to the players.
Almost everyone said they were shocked. Some said they felt cheated. The deal came almost a year after Monahan made harsh comments about LIV Golf’s funding source, particularly as it related to Saudi Arabia’s possible ties to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
When a news outlet broke an embargo, some players found out about the deal on social media before the tour could email them details. Monahan then faced what was described as intense with players at the Canadian Open, which included a proposal to replace him.
“I realize people are going to call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said in a Zoom call with media after the meeting.
“Every time I’ve said something, I’ve said it with the information I had in that moment, and I’ve said it based on someone who’s trying to compete for the PGA Tour and our players.” I accept this criticism. But circumstances change. I think we’ve gotten to this point if we look at the big picture and look at it from that perspective.”
The tour said its chief operating officer, Ron Price, and its president, Tyler Dennis, would take over while Monahan recovers.
LIV CEO Greg Norman and Saudi Arabia PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were excited about the merger between the Tour and LIV Golf, which caused a stir around the world
“Our thoughts are with Jay and his family during his absence and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Price and Dennis said in a statement. “We have a strong and experienced leadership team and our priority is to support our players and continue the ongoing work to continue to advance the future of the PGA Tour and golf.”
Monahan was scheduled to meet with players and media at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut next week.
US Open players said they have no details on how the partnership between the PGA Tour, European Tour and Public Investment Fund will work or how it will affect the Tour and LIV Golf after this year.
Monahan said it was a “framework agreement” that was still being finalized. It remains to be seen how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, who left the PGA Tour to join LIV and their $100+ million contract rewards, will return – and how to reward players who stayed loyal .