New Lows For The PGA Tour
The LIV Golf vs The PGA Tour saga continues, but it has finally taken a turn where I never thought the PGA Tour or anyone else would go; 9/11.
A group of 9/11 families felt compelled to send letters to those players who chose to joined LIV, as if these players were responsible for the death of over three thousand Americans at the hand of terrorists.
Before that, the widow of journalist Jamal Khashoggi demanded golfers participating in the LIV Golf League to be banned from major tournaments.
In other words, the world of professional golf has gone full blown political.
This is not new. This has been a trend since the start of the Ukraine War when governments around the world and sport organizations began to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating in world sporting events, just because they happened to be Russian or Belarusian.
I think Commissioner Monahan is a stupid man, but to use the events of 9/11, and its families, as a tool to pressure the players, is shameful.
The truth is the Saudi Arabian government has never been charged or convicted with anything in connection to 9/11. The 9/11 Commission could find no solid connection between the Saudi Arabian government and the events of 9/11.
We may not like it, but those are the facts and everything else is just emotional conjecture.
Commissioner Monahan decided to crawl from under the rock he has been hiding and was asked by Jim Nantz why the players could not do both, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.
Jay Monahan was quoted saying, “I guess I would answer the question by asking a question, ‘why do they need us so badly’? Obviously, they do not need you Jay, otherwise they would have never left.
He went on to say, “Those players have chosen to sign multi-year lucrative contracts to play in a series of exhibition matches against the same players over and over again.” So, it is about the money for Jay, not about some legacy mumbo-jumbo.
Monahan went on to claim the best players in the game were at the RBC Canadian Open, which is not true, it was a relatively weak field.
“True competition creates the profile of the world’s greatest players,” and LIV golf players continuing to play the PGA Tour would be to let them “free ride.” “In protecting our loyal members, we can’t allow (LIV players) to free ride off that.”
A “free ride”? These players bring revenue to the tour. A “free ride” is a ridiculous statement to make.
Does he think people pay to see him at an event or they pay to see Dustin Johnson? This is how disconnected Monahan is from reality.
I am used to Monahan’s ridiculous statements, but where he crossed the line was when he decided that it was a good idea to use the events of 9/11 to justify his outrage.
He was asked about the Saudi Arabian government backing of LIV Golf and “potential” dilemmas for players who accepted the guaranteed money to play.
Monahan responded by saying “It’s not an issue for me, because I don’t work for the Saudi Arabian government. It probably is an issue for those players that chose to take that money.”
Is Monahan suggesting these players work for the Saudi Arabian government? Can this man be really this stupid?
He continued, “Why is this group spending so money recruiting players and chasing a concept with no possibility of return? How is this good for the game we love?”
The PGA Tour does not have an exclusive ownership of the game of golf, anybody is welcome to seek or start any kind of venture they wish. Monahan is afraid because more players are taking the plunge and LIV Golf is a real threat.
Why does Jay Monahan not complain about players who are sponsored by Nike? Nike makes their products in China, who by all accounts, is also a murderous regime and operate their factories under slave like conditions.
Yes, the Saudi Arabian government human rights record is nothing to brag about, but the hypocrisy is too big to bear.
The New York Post reported a coalition of 9/11 families sent letters to representatives of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Kevin Na, accusing the golfers of sportswashing.
When asked about it, Monahan said, “I think you’d have to be living under a rock to not know there are significant implications. Two families close to me lost loved ones.”
Then he goes on to cheapened their memories by equating their tragedy to the PGA Tour fight against LIV.
I do not need Jay Monahan to lecture me about 9/11 or its implications. I spent fifteen years of my life flying all over the world to prevent another 9/11 from happening.
Monahan using 9/11 as an excuse to move his agenda against Greg Norman is demeaning and an insult to the memories of those victims and their families.
He added, “have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?” Now that he mentions it, he should apologize to the millions of law-abiding Americans fans and law enforcement officers.
After all, it was the PGA Tour, under his leadership, who gave an honorary tee time to George Floyd, a convicted felon, domestic abuser, and drug addict.
Folks, you know our society has hit rock bottom when institutions like the PGA Tour are willing to go the 9/11 route to fight for the survival of their monopoly. The PGA Tour and Commissioner Monahan should be ashamed of themselves, but we already know they have no shame to begin with.
Some of the quotes were courtesy of Sports Illustrated and Morning Read.