Frustrated PGA Tour stars launch petition as pressure grows ahead of LIV Golf merger

The PGA Tour continues to negotiate with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to end its dispute with LIV Golf, but player dissatisfaction is growing.

A group of PGA Tour players has started a petition to set up a meeting with the circuit’s coaching team as discontent within the team continues to mount.

As first reported by No Laying Up, a group of anonymous players called for a meeting to discuss the Tour’s recent infrastructure changes in light of the threat to LIV Golf. Last year, Commissioner Jay Monahan introduced changes to the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings, prize pot and bonuses.

This move was made after the emergence of the LIV group, which began attracting large numbers of tour players with high transfer fees and huge tournament prizes.

But a year on, some players seem upset with how the US-based race has changed its routine. The petition read: “Dear PGA Tour Members, Our group is requesting a special meeting to address issues related to, but not limited, to the following:

“1. FedEx Cup points allocated to Signature Events versus full field events. Example: Currently, a 5th place finish in a no cut 78-player field is awarded 272 percent more points than a 5th place finish in a traditional event with a cut. We are requesting significant reduction before the first designated event.

“2. Number of limited field signature events. 3. PIP Program. 4. PGA Tour leadership, PGA Tour policy board and player directors. If you want to be a part of this meeting, please sign this petition.” With pressure starting to mount on Monahan, the commissioner issued a staunch defence earlier this week.

The Tour boss came under fire earlier this summer when he announced that the Tour had entered into shocking peace talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund over a potential “merger” with LIV’s rival, but current members have declined to be interviewed. I didn’t take it. Multiple players had called for Monahan to resign, but negotiations with PIF are still ongoing and it looks like Monahan is here to stay.

“People have made decisions that are much more important than the decisions that I made, and ultimately the decisions that we will make,” he said at the New York Times Dealbook Summit. We have to look beyond the horizon, you have to believe in your heart of hearts that what you’re committing to is the right decision.

“And we have to be prepared to accept any criticism. There has been a lot of criticism, and there will continue to be.” Doubts about the proposed framework agreement with Saudi Arabia grow, it has been reported that he missed the December 31st contract signing deadline.

In a key update, Monahan revealed that he will be meeting with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, with the deadline fast approaching. ” The deadline for our conversations with PIF, as you know, is a firm target,” the commissioner commented. “I’ll be with Yasir next week. And we continue to advance our conversations. And I think it’s pretty well known that there’s a large number of other interested parties that we’re also pushing to think about.”