‘Players are done with him’ PGA Tour star calls for Jay Monahan exit

Former Ryder Cup star Hunter Mahan claims players are “done” with Jay Monahan after two high-profile names explained they had lost faith in the PGA Tour commissioner.

Monahan returns to work next week facing more scrutiny than ever before after stepping away with an unnamed “medical condition” shortly after the announcement of his circuit’s shock framework deal with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

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Details that emerged during the explosive Senate hearing at Capitol Hill on Tuesday exposed more uncomfortable truths about the deal that saw Monahan complete a U-turn to unite with the Saudis.

The 53-year-old has to regain the trust of his players, many of whom turned down huge signing on bonus with LIV Golf – which is bankrolled by the Public Investment Fund – to stay loyal to the PGA Tour.

And that could be a thankless task after he blindsided his whole playing membership with the June 6 agreement.

Olympic champion Xander Schauffele appeared to be speaking up for not just up himself but other tour members when questioned on his belief in Monahan.

“We got a memo that he’ll be back on the 17th [of July],” Schauffele said in East Lothian ahead of the Scottish Open.

“If you want to call it one of the rockier times on Tour, the guy was supposed to be there for us…. Obviously he had some health issues.

“I’m glad that he said he’s feeling much better. But yeah, I’d say he has a lot of tough questions to answer on his return.  I don’t trust people easily. He had my trust and he has a lot less of it now. And I don’t stand alone when I say that.”

When asked whether Monahan had lost trust in the locker room, Jordan Spieth revealed:  “Yeah, quite a bit, just based on conversations I’ve had with players, and I think he realises that. “I’m sure he’s preparing for a plan to try and build it back.”

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And six-time PGA Tour winner Mahan was the latest to turn on the commissioner in a Twitter post on Wednesday.

“Players are done with him, except I’m not what the process is for removing him,” Mahan wrote. “Great time for players to find real representation.”

Monahan was very publicly against working with the Saudis before orchestrating a deal with PIF’s governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

He has already admitted that his actions could therefore lead to him being called a “hypocrite” and players are now set to demand more answers on his return to his position.