Boosted by the support of golf’s greatest stars, Commissioner Jay Monahan stated Tuesday that the PGA Tour was ready for the end of the threat from a Saudi-funded competitor league. He also said that his phone would be on whenever Phil Mickelson calls.
Monahan took a dig at Mickelson during his annual news conference at The Players Championship. This was in the wake of Tiger Woods’s induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
He said that there was too much momentum to keep us from being distracted by gossip about other leagues and their attempts disrupting our players, partners, and most importantly our fans.
“We are and will always be focused on legacy, not leaning. “
Monahan’s “leverage” comment echoed Monahan’s two-week old comments at a player meeting. This word was also used by Mickelson in Saudi Arabia with Alan Shipnuck, who revealed Mickelson’s involvement in a proposed league that would be led by Greg Norman with support from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund.
Shipnuck’s unauthorized biography on Mickelson will be out in May. He quoted Shipnuck as saying that the Saudis were “scary mother (expletive)s to get into a relationship with.” “
“We know that they murdered (Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi) and have a terrible record on human rights,” Mickelson stated. “
Mickelson apologized for his words but said they were out of context. Shipnuck also said that they were not.
Mickelson stated in a statement that he needed to be away for “desperate reasons” after the comments were posted. He has not played since February 6, when he was absent from The Players Championship.
Monahan stated that he had not spoken to Mickelson since the comments, and declined speculation about what discipline might be followed.
Monahan stated, “The ball is in the player’s court.” “
Monahan stated that during the five days between Mickelson’s inflaming remarks being published and his statement that he needed to take time away, the commissioner had never considered calling him.
Monahan stated that he knows the man well and that he was always available to talk to him.
Monahan stated, “Listen, he is a player who has won 45 times on PGA Tour. He has a Hall of Fame career.”
“And I will also be available to get it. “
Two people familiar with Norman’s LIV golf Investments said that the proposed rival league was “on pause.” Due to the secrecy surrounding a league no player has publicly joined, they spoke under condition of anonymity.
Bryson deChambeau and Dustin Johnson said they would stay on the PGA Tour the day after Mickelson made his comments. “
McIlroy stated Tuesday that he had heard nothing from McIlroy since. “
Norman wrote a letter accusing Monahan of bullying players. He suggested that he could not ban any player from joining a new league. Monahan didn’t respond.
Monahan stated, “I am confident in our rules, regulations, my ability, and that’s the position I have on the matter.”
“And when that happens, all the other stuff doesn’t matter because no one can match what we have.” “
