The PGA Tour is Becoming Stale by The Minute
After hiding in an undisclosed location, Jay Monahan decided to face the press, and the public, at a press conference from the Travelers Championship.
On Tuesday, he had a closed-door meeting with the PGA Tour membership where they discussed the idea of adding more money to its flagship events. Does this means the PGA superstars are staying in the PGA Tour? Maybe for now.
On Wednesday, Monahan said in his press conference this was already in the works but admitted the moves were “obviously accelerated by the current environment.” He is talking about LIV and their lucrative recruiting of PGA stars.
I do not believe for one minute Jay Monahan intended to raise the purses for PGA Tour events, this is all in response to LIV.
Among other things Monahan talked about was a remake of the tour schedule and lots of more money. The total amount of the new purses amounts to a $54 million dollar increase. Jay is so clever, get it? 54 like LIV (54.)
This is supposed to be divided among the 8 biggest events, including raising the purse for the Players Championship to $25 million with six others to $20 million.
Monahan was quoted as saying, “I am not naïve.” “If this is an arms race and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour cannot compete. The PGA Tour, an American institution, cannot compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars to attempt to buy the game of golf.”
Is Jay Monahan an utter moron? Nobody is competing against the PGA Tour, and nobody is trying to buy the game of golf. Since when the PGA Tour has a monopoly or ownership of professional golf? Let us not forget, the PGA Tour did the same thing to the PGA of America. The PGA Tour was the LIV of its time.
As to the schedule, the PGA Tour is returning to a calendar-year schedule. The schedule will go from January to August. They will also have a shorter fall season.
Speaking of the fall season and the “Fall Series.” This is where the hypocrisy of the PGA Tour and Jay Monahan are in full display.
They are going to have a series of up to three international tournaments after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Here comes Johnny! The events will be a limited-field and no-cut events. The format is currently under review by the Player Advisory Council.
This sounds like LIV 2.0. Jay.
This is supposed to allow the top players to increase their earnings for the season and for the tour to get some player’s commitments to play during the off season.
So far everything Monahan has disclosed only benefits the top players.
For those outside of the top 70 at the end of the regular season, they will be competing in a “compelling, consequential final stretch” that will set their status for the next season.
What that means? Only Monahan knows, if he does know at all.
As for players who have decided to join LIV, Monahan was clear. “I think our position there is very well established as it relates to any players that are going to play in future events.”
Monahan is basically saying, once you are gone, you are gone. That type of obtuse attitude only hurts the fans and the PGA Tour.
The future of the DP World Tour and LIV players remains in limbo and commissioner Keith Pelley still evaluating the situation.
Unlike the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour cannot afford to banned players. The DP World Tour does not enjoy strong fields week in and week out, so they need the likes of Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.
The only events on the DP World Tour hurt by the PGA Tour decision are going to be co-sanctioned events and the DP World Tour already has indicated players will be banned from participating on those events.
Interesting to me is what the Major Championship bodies are going to do. So far the United States Open did not banned the LIV players and the Open Championship will not do it either.
This is at least for this year, but as “open” championships I do not see how they could get away with banning players who are either exempted or those who qualify.
That leaves the PGA Championship and The Masters. Those two could be toss ups, but I do not think is in their best interest to ban those players. If they do, I will not be watching and I am sure I will not be the only one.
When asked where all this extra money was coming from, Monahan stated, “coming from a combination of sponsor contribution, ways to continue to sell more within those events themselves, and our reserves.”
I guess Phil Mickelson was correct when he alluded the PGA Tour had money stashed away and kept it from the players. Maybe?
It seems none of this was supposed to be out in the open this soon, but Monahan agreed that the arrival of LIV speed things up.
Asked if he would consider a partnership with LIV, Monahan said, “hypotheticals.” Meaning? No way in hell.
So there you have it, Monahan’s answer to LIV is to pay the top players more money, create a LIV style “Fall Season” so the top 50 players can double dip and make more money, and no clear path for those players above the top 70 in the world.
The PGA Tour continues its journey towards irrelevancy.
Quotes for this article courtesy of Golf.com