While there are many PGA Tour players who would like to see commissioner Jay Monahan be removed from his role following the tour’s surprise merger with LIV Golf, it seems that he is going nowhere and will actually have an expanded role in 2024.
The professional golf world was turned on its head last week when it was revealed the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf would end their two-year rivalry and actually merge. The news was met with shock and a mixed response from in and outside the sport.
Related: PGA Tour reportedly merged with LIV over desperation to avoid losing more fans
The most notable group of individuals upset by the news were the stars of the PGA Tour. Beyond the moral issues with now being intertwined with a tour backed by an arm of the Saudi Arabian government and their long history of human rights violations, staying loyal to the PGA cost those players hundreds of millions of dollars in signing bonuses.
Following the merger announcement, there were reports that quite a few players hoped PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan would soon be removed after going back on the promises he made to loyalists. Those players should not get their hopes up.
PGA Tour commissioner to be the first CEO of new merger company
On Monday, ESPN published a report detailing how the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger came together, via the man who played a key role in brokering the deal, James Dunne III. In the piece, Dunne III revealed that Jay Monahan will actually have an expanded role with the merger of the three elite golf leagues.
Firstly, Monahan will be pushing Greg Norman out of his role overseeing LIV and will be in charge of both under the terms of the agreement. And he “will evaluate whether the team-focused circuit of 54 holes, shotgun starts and no cuts will continue or fold. Dunne said it will be Monahan’s decision alone.” The different format is what made LIV and unique alternative to the PGA in its first two years.
Furthermore, for the company that is formed to oversee the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and DP World Tour, Monahan is set to serve as its first CEO.
Despite being one of the biggest public detractors of the upstart tour, Jay Monahan is set to benefit in a major way from the merger.