Phil Mickelson has once again had his say on the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, this time slamming the man in charge: Jay Monahan
Phil Mickelson has approached PGA Visit magistrate Jay Monahan to be sacked, with the approaching system understanding proceeding to project a cover over proficient golf.
Monahan is the man at the focal point of the forthcoming arrangement between the PGA Visit and Public Speculation Asset of Saudi Arabia, which is set to see them join with their LIV Golf rivals. LIV’s greatest name, Mickelson has been reproachful of the Monahan and co’s running of the Visit, which seemed to assume a part in his choice to join the breakaway association the previous summer.
With the framework agreement’s December 31 deadline creeping up, reports suggest the two sides are no closer to signing off the deal, with the Tour also in talks with other potential partners away from the Saudi fund.
For Mickelson, he believes it is time for the Tour commissioner to step aside. Responding to a tweet by golf commentator Bob Ball criticising Monahan, the LIV star wrote: “Well said. In addition to strong arming LIV players, losing trust with his players, and all credibility with his staff, golf is in this situation entirely because of him [Monahan].
“There’s no unity or path forward with him involved in my opinion as well.” It still remains to be seen if or when a deal between the American-based circuit and PIF will be finalised, and what it will mean for the sport moving forward, on the back of one the ugliest periods in its history.
Mickelson however believes that when the agreement is eventually signed off, it will see players from both sides reunite and once again play alongside each other. Responding to a fan on X, he added: “In my 30+ years we never had any tournaments where all the best player played against each other outside the 4 majors and Players.
“Now with elevated events every single top Tour player must compete. When both tours come together, every top player in the world will compete against each other many times a year. Both scenarios are better for the fans and sponsors than how it was before.”
The HyFlyers captain’s comments came hours after his long-time PGA Tour rival and Ryder Cup teammate Tiger Woods broke his silence on the ongoing negotiations. Woods is back in action at this week’s Hero World Challenge for the first time since April’s Masters, and unsurprisingly answered questions on the merger in his pre-tournament press conference.
Throughout the saga the 15-time major champion has stayed loyal to both Monahan and the PGA Tour, but he did admit he was left frustrated with the circuit’s handling of the shock framework agreement announcement in June. “We [PGA Tour players] were very frustrated with what happened,” Woods said.
“We were totally reclaimed by it. It worked out so rapidly with next to no of our contribution. Nobody knew. That can’t repeat.” In the fallout Woods was selected to the Visit’s Strategy Board as a Player Chief, and will presently have an immediate say on the PGA Visit’s subsequent stages pushing ahead.
Going on with his conversation about how to ensure he and his kindred players are not left in that frame of mind from now on, he added: “How we do that is having six player chiefs so we control the board and we control what we will do.
“I think Jay [Monahan] has been a piece of the course, he comprehends what occurred preceding that can’t reoccur and will not repeat, not with the players that are involved and not with the player chiefs playing the part that we have.”