“We’ll all make sh*tloads” – PGA Tour pro on merger

The mood appears to be shifting amongst the rank and file of the PGA Tour following news of the circuit’s proposed “commercial merger” with Saudi Arabia’s PIF.

The shock news, announced earlier this month, was initially met with confusion and anger by several of the US-based circuit’s members. There were reports that a call for commissioner Jay Monahan to resign was met with a standing ovation during a players’ only meeting ahead of the RBC Canadian Open, the week that the news broke.

Some players have spoken of the hypocrisy of the tour doing a deal with the bank-rollers of the LIV Golf League behind their backs, with others, notably Chesson Hadley, suggesting that those who stayed loyal to the tour after LIV’s launch should be compensated for their fealty.

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However, an eight-hour meeting of the PGA Tour policy board – held earlier this week – seems to have changed some hearts and minds.

Peter Malnati, a player representative on that board, told Golfweek that, having been opposed to the deal initially, he is now coming around to the idea.

“Prior to the board meeting, the majority of the PGA Tour players do feel, if nothing else, a sense of shock and anger over the hypocrisy,” said the 36-year-old.

“But you know, there have been varying speeds at which people have recovered from that initial emotional shock. And there are people on tour who are really on board with this and think they can see the light and see that it would be good.

“I heard a great quote from a player who is definitely in that top player group, the Delaware group, and he said, ‘I was shocked, and I was mad but now that I kind of understand what’s going on, we need to get out of the way, let smart people do their jobs, and we’ll all make shitloads.’”

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Malnati, the world No.224, added: “My thought walking out of the boardroom yesterday was there’s a lot of work to do to show the PGA Tour members that this tour works for them, they do have a say, they do have control, because that certainly hasn’t been the case to this point.

“But I left the room optimistic because I feel like the best way for the board and the executive team at the PGA Tour to regain the trust of the players is to either A: turn this deal into something that feels morally acceptable and drives tremendous growth to the PGA Tour, or, B: listen to the players, and the players say there’s no way that this can be morally acceptable to us, and we don’t want to do it.

“And I think they’re prepared to do both of those things.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor