Phil Mickelson has once again commented on the PGA Tour framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, this time criticizing the person in charge, Jay Monahan.
Phil Mickelson has called for the firing of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan as the looming deal continues to cast a shadow over professional golf.
Monaghan is a central figure in thimpending agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund to merge with rival LIV Golf. Mickelson, a big name in LIV, has been critical of Monaghan & Co.
‘s tour management, which likely influenced his decision to join the breakaway league last summer.
As the Dec. 31 deadline for a framework agreement approaches, the Tour is also in talks with potential partners beyond the Saudi fund and says the two countries are no closer to signing an agreement. There are also reports.
Mickelson believes it’s time for the tour commissioner to resign. In response to a tweet from golf commentator Bob Ball criticizing Monaghan, the LIV star wrote: Aside from the power of the LIV players, the loss of trust among the players, and any loss of trust among the staff, it is primarily his (Monaghan) fault that golf is in this situation.
“In my opinion, if he is involved, there is no unity and no path forward.” “In my opinion, if he is involved, there is no unity and no path forward.” If and when an agreement will be reached between the U.S.-based circuit and the PIF; What that means for them remains to be seen. It will be a step forward after the ugliest period in history.
However, Mickelson believes that if an agreement is ultimately signed, players from both teams will reunite and play side by side again. 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, all of the world’s top players will compete multiple times a year. Both scenarios are better for fans and sponsors than they were before.”
The High Flyers captain’s comments refer to ongoing negotiations with longtime PGA Tour rival and Ryder Cup teammate Tiger Woods. It came out a few hours after breaking the silence. Woods is back in action for the first time since his April Masters, and he was back in the spotlight at this week’s Hero World Challenge, naturally answering questions about the merger at a pre-tournament press conference.
The 15-time major champion has remained loyal to both Monaghan and the PGA Tour throughout, but admitted he was frustrated by the circuit’s response to June’s shock framework announcement.. “We (PGA Tour players) were very frustrated with what happened,” Woods said.
“We were all surprised by this. It happened so quickly without us doing anything. No one knew.” Something like this should never happen again.” Woods has since been appointed to the tour’s policy committee as player director and now has a direct say in the PGA Tour’s next steps.
Continuing with his discussion about how to make sure he and his fellow players are not left in the dark in the future, he added: “How we do that is having six player directors so we control the board and we control what we’re going to do.
“I think Jay [Monahan] has been a part of the direction, he understands what happened prior to that can’t happen again and won’t happen again, not with the players that are involved and not with the player directors having the role that we have.”