Jay Monahan: PGA Tour “left on our own” to fend off Saudis

Jay Monahan has claimed the PGA Tour were “left on their own” to resist Saudi Arabia’s staunch efforts to take over golf.

In a letter to Congress obtained by Politico, the under-fire commissioner partially blamed the inaction of lawmakers that made him feel he had little choice but to sign the shock deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

Monahan told congressional members investigating the merger between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour that he was left isolated because of the United States’ geopolitical alliance with the kingdom.

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Three days after the startling announcement of the sport’s ceasefire, he sent a letter to lawmakers explaining an apparent lack of support from the Congress during the fierce civil war.

“During this intense battle, we met with several Members of Congress and policy experts to discuss the PIF’s attempt to take over the game of golf in the United States, and suggested ways that Congress could support us in these efforts,” Monahan’s letter read.

“While we are grateful for the written declarations of support we received from certain members, we were largely left on our own to fend off the attacks, ostensibly due to the United States’ complex geopolitical alliance with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“This left the very real prospect of another decade of expensive and distracting litigation and the PGA TOUR’s long-term existence under threat.”

Just three days after Monahan’s letter sent on June 9, the Senate Investigations subcommittee chair Richard Blumenthal (DC-T) confirmed he would be looking into the how a deal was agreed following the astonishing U-turn to unite with the Saudis.

Monahan said that the PGA Tour “did everything we could possibly do to defend what we stand for”, but reiterated that he is confident that the traditional circuit retains control of the sport, despite the Saudi union.

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“The difficult negotiations we have undertaken with the Saudis and the agreement in principle we have reached will accomplish important goals that protect the game and the important work of the PGA Tour in the United States,” he added.

“Rather than a foreign funded entity taking over an American sport, the end result is that the PIF has agreed to work within the existing golf ecosystem as a minority investor with the PGA Tour in full control.

“The PGA Tour is, and will remain, an American institution dedicated to its players and generating charity in the communities where we play.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.