On the eve of The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s unofficial fifth major, Rory McIlroy came to commissioner Jay Monaghan’s defense.
Asked if he thought Monaghan was the right person to lead the Tour, McIlroy took a holistic approach.
“Yeah, I think so too. Look at what Jay has done since he took over. Media rights deals, guidance through COVID-19, strategic partnership with DP World Tour. PGA Tour I would say that by creating Enterprise, we were able to accept $1.5 billion into this business,” McIlroy said.
“People may point out the details and say he didn’t do this right or he didn’t do that right, but when you really step back and look at the big picture, the PGA Tour is better than it was with Jay. I think we’re in a much stronger position.” “
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The comments came a day after coach Xander Schauffele told Monahan he believed he had a long way to go to regain the trust of the commissioner and many of the players.
“Trust is such a gentle thing that words are words. In my book, [Monahan has] “It’s a long road to gaining the trust of our members,” Schauffele boldly said.
Schauffele and many other players have spoken publicly about the murky negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s PIF. Many were shocked when the framework agreement was announced on June 6, 2023.
McIlroy was one of them.
But it has been quite a departure for the Northern Irishman recently. He was previously a marquee player on the PGA Tour during its split with LIV Golf. But McIlroy’s opinion has changed significantly in recent months, and he has called for unity.
The PGA Tour recently signed an investment agreement with SSG, but questions have arisen as to whether the LIV deal will materialize. Only time will tell how this incredible hit in golf history will unfold.
Kendall Capps is the senior editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social media platforms.
