Jay Monahan is a masterful politician.

During a pre-Players Championship press conference that followed an earlier competitors meeting, the PGA Tour commissioner began with a rambling, pre-prepared speech. There was one obvious theme though. Monahan used all of his oratory “skills” to portray the organisation he leads in the most positive of lights. In that respect, it was a brilliant display, one for the ages even. But as a vehicle through which the golfing public might feel better informed as to what exactly is going on in the on-going battle between the game’s established tours and the upstart LIV Golf League, Monahan’s utterances were anything but.

Which, one imagines with some justification, was the commissioner’s intention all along. Because, one can further argue, Monahan’s actions in relation to LIV have long spoken far louder than his words (his new favourite is “cadence” by the way). Indeed, it is difficult to get past the notion that, had Monahan actually owned full confidence in the quality of his “product,” the PGA Tour’s reaction to LIV would have been along the lines of “we think we are the best place for the elite to play, so bring it on.”

Anyway, some details are necessary from a tediously long “presser” that had this attendee running metaphorically from the room. 

First, when it came to the inevitable questions over the “no-cut” elevated events that will dominate the PGA Tour schedule in 2024, there appears to be some confusion. Earlier, in a separate and generally more illuminating chat with the assembled media, Rory McIlroy cited the “fact” that 26 of Tiger Woods’ victories came in events where everyone played 72-holes. Similarly, at least in the Northern Irishman’s mind, Arnold Palmer owns 23 such wins and Jack Nicklaus 17.

Hang on though. Maybe an hour later, Monahan was disappearing down a similar rabbit hole. But, while Woods’ number was still 26, Nicklaus now had 20 and Palmer 17. Go figure. 

Pressed as to how the PGA Tour’s so-called “strategic alliance” with the DP World Tour was benefitting what used to be the European Tour, Monahan employed his patented and aforementioned “answer another question” approach. 

“(DP World Tour chief executive) Keith Pelley has been here, he and his team, the last three or four days,” said Monahan. “We're spending a lot of time looking at the DP World Tour schedule and opportunities that we have going forward. I'm not going to comment on those today, but when you look at what has happened over the last couple of years, when you look at this year, you know, the DP World Tour is playing for $141 million in prize funds, which we are underpinning. We have made a $100 million investment in European Tour Productions.

“We as a team are rolling up our sleeves and working with Keith and his team every single day on that important part of the DP World Tour's business.”

There was also time for a spot of what might best be described as meaningless jibberish.

“I think what we've done from a co-sanctioning standpoint at Genesis, the two crossover opportunities we have with Barbasol, Barracuda, if you look at their – if you look at the portfolio of sponsors and you look at those that share a relationship with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, our sponsors are interested in partnering with the DP World Tour.”

Your guess is as good as mine.

“The PGA Tour isn't just competing with LIV Golf or other sports. It's competing with Instagram and TikTok and everything else that's trying to take eyeballs away from the PGA Tour as a product. So, LIV coming along has definitely had a massive impact on the game.” – Rory McIlroy

Moving right along, Monahan maintained his evasive momentum when the awkward subject of Cam Smith came up. Billed as the “defending champion” when he actually isn’t allowed to defend, the Australian is one of the many LIV players banned from competing this week. But his absence is the most glaring, especially when the Open Champion lives just down the road from TPC Sawgrass. 

“Listen, Cam Smith had a great performance in 2022,” Monahan said. “He was a deserved champion. I think as I look to this week and I look at the field that we have here and the strength from top to bottom, I think when we leave here on Sunday night we're going to crown another deserving champion. So yes, it's awkward. But you know, ultimately that's a decision he made, and we've got an unbelievable field here this week and a history and tradition that one of these 144 is going to go seek to get.”

Rory McIlroy was upfront in acknowledging LIV Golf has brought about good change on the PGA Tour. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Monahan did bristle a little when it was suggested that the 2024 PGA Tour season is going to resemble what LIV do, at least in terms of the elimination of those pesky cuts. And, to be fair, he did make a reasonably cogent argument, saying that the PGA Tour players who make it into the designated elite events will already have made it through what amounts to a cut or two.

“The players that are competing in our events in this new format next year will have earned the right to compete in them and they will have earned it through top-50 position in the FedExCup this year as well as their performance in the fall and ultimately in these swings,” he said. “That's what this organisation has always stood for. When I think about, when I think about your question, you know the PGA Tour has always had limited-field, no-cut 72-hole stroke play events. 

“There was and there still is a lot of discussion and debate on whether or not there should be no cuts. But for us to be able to have our stars assured to play for four days is a really important element to this model going forward. We think that's what fans want, particularly given the players have earned their right and their ability to play in those events.”

Where Monahan was less forthcoming was in “crediting” LIV with provoking all the changes that the PGA Tour is already going through. This reticence was in contrast to both Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. Both players were quick to acknowledge the outside influence of the controversial Saudi-backed circuit. 

“I'm not going to sit here and lie,” McIlroy said. “I think the emergence of LIV or the emergence of a competitor to the PGA Tour has benefited everyone that plays elite professional golf. When you've been the biggest golf league in the biggest market in the world for the last 60 years, there's not a lot of incentive to innovate. This has caused a ton of innovation at the PGA Tour. What was quite, I would say, an antiquated system is being revamped to try to mirror where we're at in the world in the 21st century with the media landscape. 

“The PGA Tour isn't just competing with LIV Golf or other sports. It's competing with Instagram and TikTok and everything else that's trying to take eyeballs away from the PGA Tour as a product. So, LIV coming along has definitely had a massive impact on the game.”

Rahm was similarly minded – and (memo to Monahan) just as clear as to where he stood on LIV’s wider impact.

“Without LIV Golf, this wouldn't have happened,” the Spaniard said. “Like I've said before, we should be thankful this threat has made the PGA Tour want to change things. I wish it didn't come to the PGA Tour being under fire from somebody else to make those changes and make things better for the players, but I guess it is what we needed. So yeah, it is because of LIV Golf; otherwise, we wouldn't have seen any of this.”

By the way, Monahan was 100 percent clear about one thing at least.

After his press conference had eventually concluded, it was pointed out to him that McIlroy’s Woods/Palmer/Nicklaus numbers contrasted with his own. But the “commish” was adamant. His figures are correct. Hey, when it comes to minor details, Jay Monahan is the guy to speak to.