Jay
Monahan insists the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are both “fully
understanding each other” about ongoing negotiations aimed at
establishing a reunification at the top level in golf.
In
recent weeks, Monahan has been part of a PGA Tour delegation that has
held two meetings with US President Donald Trump in the White House, the
second of which was also attended by Public Investment Fund chief Yasir
Al-Rumayyan.
Speaking at his annual pre-event media conference at The Players
Championship at Sawgrass on Tuesday, Monahan delivered another positive
update about what has come out of those meetings, albeit without being
able to add any meat to the bare bones.
“The talks are real, they're substantial, and they're being driven at
the top levels of both organisations,” said the PGA Tour commissioner.
“Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump's
willingness to serve as a facilitator.
“President
Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game's power
and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous with his time and
influence to help bring a deal together.
“He
wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified. His
involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real.”
Monahan was accompanied at the first White House meeting by Adam Scott, a
member of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council, with Tiger Woods, who
also sits on that, joining the duo for the second meeting a fortnight
ago.
“When
you're in the midst of complex negotiations, particularly when you may
be near a breakthrough, there are ebbs and flows in the discussion,”
added Monahan. “The most important thing is the mutual respect that
we've built over the last couple of years.
“We
appreciate Yasir's innovative vision, and we can see a future where we
welcome him on to our board and work together to move the global game
forward.
“As
part of our negotiations, we believe there's room to integrate
important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform. We're doing
everything that we can to bring the two sides together.
“That
said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our
platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and our
partners. So while we've removed some hurdles, others remain. But like
our fans, we still share the same sense of urgency to get to a
resolution.
“Our
team is fully committed to reunification. The only deal that we would
regret is one that compromises the essence of what makes the game of
golf and the PGA Tour so exceptional.”
No
mention had been made of the DP World Tour until close to the end of an
hour-long session in the media building at the Ponte Vedra Beach until
Monahan was asked about its role in the negotiations.
The
Wentworth-based circuit entered an alliance with the PGA Tour in
November 2020 and was part of the framework agreement agreed with PIF in
May 2023.
“I
should share my phone with you,” said Monahan. “I'm on the phone with
(DP World Tour CEO) Guy Kinnings virtually every single day. Guy and
Eric [Nicoli, the European Tour Group chairman) are here for the week.
Guy and Eric participated in our board meeting just a few weeks ago. I
will be in the UK at their board meeting on March 24th.
“Anything
that I and we are doing as it relates to our negotiations or thinking
about how we're going to continue to improve as an organization, they
are aware of, and I and they themselves go out of their way to make
certain that we're both fully understanding each other as these
conversations evolve.
“So
when you make a commitment like we did to each other when we formed our
alliance, that's a commitment, and I feel very proud of the way that we
have both together honored that commitment. And again, I can't
understate the importance of the role that they're playing as our
partners.”
Away
from the negotiations, Monahan announced that steps are to be taken by
the PGA Tour to try and speed up play, starting with the publication of
stats later this season.
In
addition, a new speed-of-play policy, which will include assessing
penalty strokes for slow play, on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour
Americas will begin next month while range finders will be tested at the
six PGA Tour events between The Masters and PGA Championship.
“We're
excited to learn more about the impact of increased transparency and
accountability through these efforts,” said Monahan of the circuit
taking action after the LPGA had already decided to do likewise this
year.
