After shooting a 6-under 66 in the third round of The Players Championship, Peter Malnati headed to the interview area to speak with the media.
He briefly mentioned a round in which he had back-to-back birdies on the back nine, including one on the famous par-3 17th. But Malnati mainly discussed the current state of the PGA Tour with LIV Golf and his backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
As a member of the PGA Tour’s Policy Committee, Malnati is kept up to date on ongoing negotiations between the Tour and PIF. However, he didn’t say much about the secret meeting that will reportedly take place after The Players.
“I would rather tell our members first,” Malnati said. “But we don’t know where it is or how we’re going to get there. I want to know that information, so I’d like to tell our members before we talk about it.”
Still, once Malnati started talking more with reporters, it turned out to be a wealth of information.
A reporter then asked the one-time PGA Tour winner about the possibility of an LIV golfer returning. The tour suspended the players who participated in LIV.
Malnati replied with money.
“When we find a way for players to come back, the easiest and most likely route we take is for players not to return to the PGA Tour with their PGA Tour memberships. I think so,” Malnati explained.
“I think the certain methods that we’ve been able to establish and implement are going to be really, really good for the PGA Tour and its members, and also for our fans. This player equity plan gives me I don’t understand it, it’s a little over my head, but I certainly know enough to say that I really support it…
“This makes the players own the tour, and players who violate our policies will no longer be eligible to do so. It’s a big deal. Like, it’s a big, big deal.”
Those who participated in LIV Golf violated PGA Tour policy and will not be included in the PGA Tour’s $930 million equity plan.
Of this plan, the top 36 players will receive $750 million in equity, with the remaining $180 million distributed among an additional 121 players and other legends of the game.
“We have to overcome all of that,” Malnati continued.
“I definitely think that when you put on an event like this in one way or another, you have to give the fans the best product with the best of everything, in the best of venues. Players from all over the world. is playing. We have to find a way to give that to our fans, because that’s what they deserve to be loyal to us.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
