Jay Monahan reveals compensation plan for PGA Tour loyalists in PIF deal

Jay Monahan has revealed a key component in finalising a “Definitive Agreement” with the Saudi Public Investment Fund is a compensation package for PGA Tour loyalists.

In a memo sent out to his PGA Tour playing membership on July 26, the commissioner outlined details of a “Player Benefit Program” which will see stars rewarded for rejecting the advances of the LIV Golf series.

A huge bone of contention in the fallout of the PIF deal has been the compensation plan for players who turned down huge signing bonuses to remain loyal to the PGA Tour.

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“We have obtained player input that is helping to inform the potential structure, components and timeline,” Monahan wrote about the Player Benefit Program.

“This program, should we reach a definitive agreement, will be financially significant in total and incremental to our planned compensation package.”

Monahan adds that there are “more details to come” as PGA Tour officials “evaluate each potential component and to run analyses to determine how players from across the membership would benefit.”

The update comes after world No.2 Jon Rahm admitted he should not be entitled to a big financial reward just for choosing not to defect to LIV.

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“Do I think they absolutely should be and there must be a compensation? No,” Rahm said before The Open.“I just stayed because I think it’s the best choice for myself and for the golf I want to play.

“We all had the chance to go to LIV and take the money and we chose to stay at the PGA Tour for whatever reason we chose.”

In the same press conference, Rahm said “some punishment should be in order” for LIV players who will be able to reintroduced back to the traditional tours in 2024 following the so-called merger.

Monahan also addressed the subject of LIV members returning to the PGA Tour in his memo, confirming a “task force” was in place to decide on penalties for players who are seeking a pathway back to their old circuit.

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.