MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Sean Foley, considered one of golf’s extra personable personalities, was answering a query on considered one of golf’s largest matters when a professional walked previous, on the vary at TPC Southwind, and whispered howdy. Foley then advised him what he was speaking about. 

There was a brief pause. And the PGA Tour participant then supplied this recommendation:   

“Duck, dodge, weave.” 

Such is life in males’s professional golf as of late. Sure, the topic of Jay Monahan is akin to a sport of dodgeball. Or perhaps it’s a boxing match. Or perhaps it’s escaping a burning constructing. 

How did we get right here? How a lot time do you’ve gotten? Notably, it’s all gone down simply over the previous year-plus, although it’s actually picked up over the previous two months. Right here’s a par-3-length recap (and we’ll present the required hyperlinks): The Tour and LIV Golf, funded by the deep-pocketed Saudi Arabia Public Funding Fund, have fought for gamers and status since final June. Phrases, a lot of them, have been mentioned. Cash, lots of it, was handed out. However that was nothing. A faucet-in. As a result of right here got here the bombshells.

In the beginning of June, Monahan and the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, have been sitting side-by-side on CNBC saying they have been now bedfellows and that the edges would finish all pending litigation. And a lot of the gamers discovered about it while you did. And particulars have been scarce, although questions have been bountiful. A participant assembly was held in Canada. And Monahan took a go away as a consequence of a yet-to-be disclosed well being concern. And a listening to was held within the halls of Congress. And Tiger Woods tweeted. And Monahan returned, although he mentioned the golf warfare had taken some toll. And Monahan despatched a memo providing some element of the deal. And the gamers wrote a letter demanding extra say. And a day later, they obtained it.    

Whew. 

And now it’s week one of many Tour playoffs, on the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The place, in any case that above, there’s one topic not less than being thought of:

Ought to Monahan preserve his job?

Actually? Take this quote, from Xander Schauffele, the most effective on the earth, finally month’s Scottish Open:

“If you wish to name it one of many rockier instances on Tour, the man was presupposed to be there for us, wasn’t. Clearly he had some well being points. I’m glad that he mentioned he’s feeling significantly better. However yeah, I’d say he has lots of robust inquiries to reply in his return, and yeah, I don’t belief individuals simply. He had my belief and he has rather a lot much less of it now. So I don’t stand alone once I say that.”

That’s telling. That’s damning. 

So two massive questions, together with a pair others, have been requested Tuesday. 

Notably, gamers met with Monahan right here at 4 within the afternoon, although not all went, which you’ll be taught. 

Contemplating every little thing that’s occurred over the previous two months, do you suppose Jay Monahan ought to preserve his job?

“I feel I made my stance on that at The Open clear,” Jon Rahm, Masters winner and world No. 3, mentioned throughout his formal, pre-tournament press convention. “I feel he ought to have the chance proper now to complete this off the best way he did. I feel we’re shortly forgetting how effectively he managed lots of issues. He did an incredible job in Covid and saved lots of people employed. We have been the primary main sport to come back again. I do know UFC was doing fights, however we have been the key sport to come back again.

“Plenty of gamers have been in a position to earn their playing cards and preserve competing because of that. I feel we shouldn’t overlook that that shortly. Once more, we should always give him the possibility to see this by.

Then after every little thing is claimed and achieved, if gamers need to make a change, then that will be a greater time, however proper now, I don’t suppose it’s.”

If you happen to had the possibility to ask one query or make one change, what would that be?

“That’s too imprecise of a query as a result of we actually do not know what’s coming. We’re not in these conferences. They’ve till January to be in these negotiations.

“I can inform you proper now my priorities are rather a lot decrease than what lots of people would suppose. If I’ve to — if I am going by request — I do know that is going to sound very silly, however so simple as having a freaking Port-a-Potty on each gap — I do know it sounds loopy, however I can’t select when I’ve to go to the toilet. I’ve advised the Tour this many instances, so simple as that.

“Simply easy little issues higher for the Tour. Though they do an exceptional job all year long, simply making it extra constant. These TPC occasions, as a result of the PGA Tour is extra concerned, our meals scenario is unbelievable. They’ve nutritionists that they’ve employed to work with and the choices and the sources are unbelievable, so I want to see that extra throughout the board at each single Tour occasion.

“I want to see physio areas to be a bit of bit higher. Though the gymnasium trailer is nice, it’s nonetheless a trailer, so when you’ve gotten three individuals in it you’re a bit of crowded, so seeing higher exercise amenities, as effectively.

“These are the type of issues that I hope come out all through this complete factor.

“I’ve talked about many instances making the Tour higher for the gamers, and I imply that. The very staple items they will do in tournaments to make all of them pretty much as good as they are often is the place I’d wish to see some adjustments. All the things else can come out afterwards, however I’m not so nervous about purses and bonuses and people issues. I feel giving us the perfect facilities attainable is a type of issues that needs to be a priority. That’s not less than lots of issues I preserve going to with them. It’s not normally what’s in individuals’s minds.”

Given every little thing that’s occurred over the previous two months, do you suppose that Jay Monahan ought to preserve his job?

“I feel Jay is a really certified chief for our organizations,” Brian Harman, the Open Championship winner, mentioned throughout his formal, pre-tournament press convention. “With out Jay Monahan, I don’t know if we make it by Covid. His management and his bravery by that — we have been the one sport working, and I can keep in mind we have been on the vary and in Connecticut, and it’s peak Covid, and there was guys that have been taking place left and proper, like this man is optimistic.

“The world was scared, we have been all scared, and we hear Jay is flying up, and I’m like, effectively, that’s it, we tried, he’s going to close it down. He will get up there in entrance of all people and plows forward. He caught warmth for that. He’s like, no, that is the best way ahead. We’ve got to remain working or we’re going to be toast, and he was proper.

“I feel Jay deserves a fairly lengthy leash.”

If you happen to might make a request or make a change proper now, what would that be?

“In what regard, to the Tour or to golf?”

To the Tour, to the construction of the Tour, going ahead with the proposed deal.

“I’d like for us to have entry to chilly plunges within the locker room. That will be the change I’d like.”

With the assembly in the present day with Jay, what one query would you’ve gotten for him, or what one element would you wish to know?

“Yeah, I feel an essential query is I consider that Jay had final authority always so far as negotiating and stuff like that, and he knew that his repute was going to take a serious hit in the event that they went ahead. My query would simply be, why didn’t he cease it, realizing that his repute was going to take a success.

Why did he …

“Why did he let it proceed. In my thoughts, I feel he believed that it was the perfect factor going ahead, and that’s why he did it.”

Do you suppose Monahan ought to preserve his job?

“To be sincere with you, I don’t have sufficient info on it to have any opinion,” mentioned Foley, considered one of Woods’ former coaches and considered one of golf’s greatest instructors. “I’m an open-minded Canadian child who likes to usually speak about what I do know to be true and never what I feel is going on. Look, I feel on the finish of the day, that the PGA Tour is on the place that it’s at now within the final 20 years financially and is as massive of a sport as it’s is due to the child within the pink shirt from California. So I’m not so positive if the choices that, with out Tiger, the place are we? I don’t actually have an opinion on that. One, it doesn’t have an effect on me, and two, I’m by no means shocked on the earth of cash and enterprise when issues aren’t as they appear. Fairly regular, isn’t it? However I’ve identified Jay for a very long time. I’ve at all times thought him to be an upstanding man. I’ve at all times loved my time with him. So I don’t know what works behind the scenes on some of these issues. 

If you happen to have been PGA Tour commissioner proper now, what change would you make? What concepts would you’ve gotten? What would you do otherwise?

“I don’t know. I feel they do a fairly good job. Once you’re coping with energy and also you’re coping with funds, it’s type of robust, proper? And who is aware of what’s behind all that. Cash talks and bulls**t walks, so to talk, proper? However no, I feel the PGA Tour does an excellent job. I feel the gamers do a fairly good job; you already know, guys who’re particular person sports activities guys. So yeah, I don’t actually have something so as to add to that, both. I feel that’s extra ask the gamers, you already know. …

“So yeah, because it pertains to Jay, no remark. Because it pertains to what the Tour is doing, I simply actually concentrate on my guys and don’t take note of the remainder of what’s occurring round me. However I see all of the followers week to week. Looks as if individuals take pleasure in it. I feel you bought between Scheffler and Schauffele, you bought so many nice gamers proper now. I feel the Tour is just pretty much as good because the gamers.” 

I requested Jon Rahm the query in his press convention. His reply, he needs there have been extra port-a-johns on the course. That was … a request. 

“Effectively, he’s in all probability made some bogies having to take a p**s. I imply, if you happen to ever needed to play golf and you actually need to take a p**s, it’s fairly difficult, proper? Yeah, port-a-john, that’s fairly humorous. Nah, because it pertains to me, I don’t must eat in participant eating. I simply want a spot to go inside when it will get nasty exterior, you already know.” 

With in the present day’s gamers assembly, do you suppose Jay Monahan ought to preserve his job? I do know it’s an out-of-the-blue, excessive query. 

“Yeah, there’s lots of issues occurring that I nonetheless don’t learn about and perceive fully,” mentioned Russell Henley, whereas strolling to the follow inexperienced. “I don’t actually know if I’m certified to reply proper now.” 

If there have been a query that you possibly can ask, what would that be?

“How can we get all people on the identical web page?”

If you happen to might make one change or one request, what would that be?

“Get all people on the identical web page.” 

Do you suppose Monahan ought to preserve his job?

“I haven’t actually gotten into a lot of this, and once more, I really feel like there’s extra people who find themselves extra certified and checked out all these things to make these selections,” mentioned Sahith Theegala, after a session on the driving vary. “It will be good to have much more communication, I suppose. However once more, I’m new on Tour and simply type of drift, however I feel he’s achieved a lot good for the Tour that he positively wants an opportunity — I’m not saying he did one thing flawed, however clearly there’s a bit of little bit of disconnect. I feel he’s achieved a lot nice for the Tour that — I feel Jon Rahm truly talked about that it’s simple to overlook all the nice issues he’s achieved due to what has occurred only in the near past. The hope is that he earns the belief again of lots of guys that perhaps have misplaced a bit of little bit of that. However I feel he’s achieved such a very good job prior to now that there’s no purpose he can’t do a job transferring ahead. I’ll have an interest to what different individuals need to say as a result of Jay’s been nice to me and been nice to the gamers and I do know there’s a lot stuff circulating about being egocentric or looking for himself, however I actually suppose his greatest pursuits are the gamers. I simply hope that’s being conveyed a bit of bit higher.” 

How do you suppose he earns again belief? I do know that’s an advanced query.

“Once more, I don’t know all of the enterprise stuff, what goes on, like why selections have been made. There’s for positive causes and I feel there’s simply lots of hypothesis and there would possibly at all times be hypothesis. I don’t actually know.” 

What could be a change that you’d make, like if you happen to have been in that place to say, let’s do that; one thing is missing proper now?

“Once more, it’s really easy to — like, I’ve solely been on Tour for 2 years — that is my second yr — so I simply know what I’ve handled and now what different individuals have handled. And so far as I’m involved, issues have been actually nice. There’s extra flexibility within the schedule, there’s extra money being pumped within the purses. There’s extra direct interplay between gamers and followers. I feel there’s lots of actually great things. Clearly there’s by no means going to be an ideal product — it simply doesn’t exist. Take a look at each sports activities league on the earth — there’s not an ideal product. I feel so long as we’re making progress in the direction of acknowledging what gamers really feel like are shortcomings of the Tour — the schedule, or week-to-week foundation, or day-to-day foundation, no matter.”

With in the present day’s participant assembly with Jay …

“I’m not going,” Jason Day mentioned, whereas strolling to the first tee.  

Might I ask one other query on that matter: Do you suppose Jay ought to preserve his job?

“Oh, that’s not my determination. I’ve opinions, however I’m not going to get into that simply because like — I positively have opinions about it, however I’d moderately not say one thing that’s out within the open and doubtlessly down the highway might result in some scrutiny. After which clearly down the highway you’re strolling again your feedback, so I’d simply moderately keep quiet on it and let a few of the different guys be extra vocal about it. And to be sincere, all I need to do is attempt to win tournaments. I feel that on the finish of the day, like if I can win tournaments, like I simply need to become involved in my very own little world. As a result of it’s a distraction.” 

Do you suppose that’s type of bizarre now with a few of the off-the-course stuff while you guys are right here to do the job?

“I feel for some guys it might doubtlessly be extra of a distraction than another guys. Like another guys truly are on the board and have the perception of what’s occurring. After which there’s some guys which are extra vocal. And rightfully so. With what’s transpired, I really feel for clearly the fellows on each side, as effectively. I feel for us to be speaking about it when my say could be very small, and though I really feel like everybody’s say could be very, very beneficial out right here — and you bought to grasp that I used to be below the rule of Tim Finchem and it’s was extra of like, hey, that is what we’re doing as a Tour as a substitute of like listening to the gamers, and now I feel Jay is extra of a hearken to the gamers and get them extra concerned. I actually type of stayed out of it. I actually haven’t paid an excessive amount of consideration to it, though I type of hear the rumblings of all of it.”   

Do you suppose he ought to preserve his job based mostly on what’s occurred over the previous couple of months. 

“Oh, I don’t need to speak about that stuff,” mentioned Boyd Summerhays, Tony Finau’s coach, after a spread session. “I’d ask the gamers on that. I’d simply moderately keep out of that. Ask him [Finau]. I feel the highest gamers’ feedback say all of it, you already know what I imply. … If somebody goes to say it, I feel it must be these guys.” 

With seemingly every little thing on the desk, would there be one thing from a training standpoint that would change or is missing or is lacking? If you happen to have been Tour commissioner, what could be one thing you would possibly need to repair, or change or regulate?

“Oh, I feel the coaches get handled good. … I’d say there’s no Tour coaches with out Tour professionals so I’ve at all times felt like I’ve been handled good. However you get some guys that don’t really feel that method, which type of surprises me as a result of we’re consuming proper down there; I imply, we parked proper down subsequent to the clubhouse. I really feel like so far as a coach scenario that they take excellent care of us. I do know the gamers count on rather a lot as a result of hey, they’re the expertise and all that. However the coaches aren’t the expertise. So when a coach doesn’t really feel about it, they could be coming from a distinct area. I’ve solely coached for 9 years. A few of the different coaches in all probability have seen the adjustments over time. … I feel from a training and caddie perspective, I’d be shocked if there could be complaining, however individuals at all times do. However I really feel like they do a very good job, I actually do.” 

With all that’s gone on over the previous two months, do you suppose he ought to preserve his job?

“I feel me or the gamers shouldn’t be in that place to pressure whether or not he ought to or whether or not he shouldn’t,” Aaron Rai mentioned forward of a spread session. “I feel our job is to play golf and do the perfect we are able to on the golf course. He has that place. He’s greater than certified in that place. And all of us make nice calls and all of us make calls that may not appear proper, however they may prove sooner or later to be nice. And I feel it’s too early to say proper now whether or not that is the fitting factor or whether or not it’s not. Nobody can say that, as a result of there’s a lot but to be finalized the best way issues are going, so I feel it’s untimely both approach to make any knee-jerk reactions on whether or not Jay needs to be right here, whether or not Jay shouldn’t. I feel he’s achieved amazingly by his complete tenure of being right here. That ought to at all times depend for one thing. And like I mentioned, I feel it’s too early to know the way issues are going to play out. Yeah, that’s not one thing I’d push for in any method.” 

If you happen to have been PGA Tour commissioner, what could be one factor you’ll change?

“That’s a tricky query.” 

So I requested Jon Rahm that earlier in the present day, he mentioned he want to see a port-a-john on each gap. 

“I’ll second that really. That’s an excellent suggestion.   

“I feel that — I don’t know what this might appear to be; simply type of pondering out loud right here — however we see the place skilled golf and prize cash is part of tournaments and a part of the rationale we’re right here, however I feel lately, it’s gone down the route of extra money and extra concentrate on funds and so forth and so forth, and that’s an essential half; I’m not saying it’s not. However I feel extra concentrate on golf, extra concentrate on the tales, extra concentrate on the gamers, extra concentrate on the inspiration that’s out right here. Everybody right here on this driving vary and everybody out right here this week and everybody a part of the PGA Tour, everybody has a singular story, everybody has a background. There’s lots of motivation that may be discovered that may be present in all these issues. So I feel if a few of these issues have been highlighted extra, I feel you possibly can have a much bigger have an effect on on the impression of golf, each inside the sport and out of doors the sport, versus perhaps extra of the shift being on cash, funds and enterprise construction, which once more is a part of the rationale for this merger. 

“So I’m not saying that’s proper or that’s flawed, however I feel extra concentrate on all of the tales which are out right here, which might be superb, moderately than the issues which are highlighted within the media.” 

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Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his position, he’s chargeable for enhancing, writing and growing tales throughout the golf area. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be taking part in the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and brief, and ingesting a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You’ll be able to attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his sport or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.