According to a report, PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan and his LIV Golf counterpart didn’t speak for six months after announcing the framework agreement.
PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan shocked the world of sport on 6 June 2023 when he gleefully sat alongside his LIV Golf counterpart Yasir Al-Rumayyan and announced an intention to make peace between the establishment and the breakaway.
But after their genuinely bizarre joint television interview, the two reportedly lost contact for six months, according to a recent report by Telegraph Sport.
This is true even though it seemed like both parties were slowly moving toward ratifying the framework agreement.
Under the terms of the framework agreement, the commercial assets of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV would be combined under the umbrella of a new, for-profit golf company called PGA Tour Enterprises.
“Plenty of negotiating in good faith happening,” on X user wrote sarcastically in response to the bombshell.
Another added: “It’s only been six months, cut him some slack.”
This person turned the screw: “How in the world is this even possible? If Jay can’t even pick up a phone what is he actually doing? Crazy town.”
Despite the fact the pair have reportedly only spoken once since 6 June, Monahan’s European counterpart Keith Pelley is confident a deal can still be struck.
Pelley is leaving his role to take up a lucrative job in his native Canada. His decision to quit has resulted in a mixed reaction from golf fans and professional golfers.
Matthew Fitzpatrick was dismal in his assessment of Pelley whereas Rory McIlroy said it was too soon to judge his tenure.
Pelley told Telegraph Sport he has been asked to remain in his role for three more months because confidence is high a deal can be struck with LIV Golf’s financiers.
He told the paper: “I’m here for the next three months and by then we hope to come to a conclusion and I’ve told the PGA Tour and representatives from PIF that is my primary focus.
“I truly believe it [that a deal can be reached]. I’ve believed it for a long time and that is the reason that we entered into the framework agreement [last June] – and we need to move forward.”
He added: “I said things would heat up after the Ryder Cup, and they have.
“So yeah, I’m optimistic over the next couple of months. And that’s the primary reason I’m not leaving straight away.
“I had a conversation with the [DP World Tour] chairman and the nomination committee to stay on to try to bring the ‘framework agreement’ to a conclusion is a priority. I think unifying the game is something we all want.”
Pelley declined to comment further because he was under an NDA’s terms.
The aforementioned McIlroy is one person who has shared his thoughts on the direction that men’s professional golf will take.
He has demanded that the top 70–100 players in the world go on a global tour.
In contrast to the Northern Irishman, Sergio Garcia maintained that LIV “deserves” to take up more than two months on the calendar.