In an unexpected turn of events, the long-standing feud between the PGA Tour and its Saudi Arabia-backed competitor, LIV Golf, has been resolved with an announced merger. Among other commenters, Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, didn’t mince words as he criticized PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan’s apparent about-face regarding financial associations with Saudi Arabia.
Portnoy didn’t hold back, pointing out the irony of Monahan’s prior moral stand against Saudi funding, citing 9/11 concerns, only to merge with LIV shortly afterward. However, he maintained that his disappointment was not with the merger but the commissioner’s conduct, calling out Monahan for seemingly exploiting 9/11 families to tarnish LIV Golf’s reputation.
I'm gonna need Monahan to address these comments which were so clearly bullshit in real time but to invoke 9/11 to get public opinion on your side in a financial golf league dispute is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/81avuap7Vn
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 6, 2023
Portnoy underscored that he found the merger beneficial for the sport and its fans, bringing top golfers back into shared tournaments. His concern was more with the hypocrisy surrounding the issue. He posited that to avoid alienating star players, the newly formed entity, backed by seemingly endless Saudi funds, would likely pay each golfer who had previously declined a lucrative offer.
The backlash against Monahan didn’t end with Portnoy’s comments. Following the merger announcement, Monahan faced criticism from Tour players, golf fans and the media, all calling him a hypocrite. This merger, which will combine the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backing LIV Golf into a single entity, seemingly contradicted Monahan’s earlier stand distancing the PGA from the Saudi-funded circuit.
Jay Monahan – "I recognize that people will call me a hypocrite." #PGALIV pic.twitter.com/YltHJ4urpS
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) June 6, 2023
Despite the heavy criticism, Monahan acknowledged his perceived hypocrisy, stating he had acted based on information and circumstances available at that time. He also accepted the complaints coming his way. He admitted that circumstances change, pointing out that the “big picture” led them to this merger.
A players-only meeting was held where the mood was reportedly tense, and calls for new leadership were made in front of Monahan, receiving cheers from some attendees. The Golf Channel’s Johnson Wagner reported that multiple players demanded a new commissioner for the tour.
This swift merger has left many questions unanswered and criticisms unaddressed, guaranteeing that Monahan will continue to face heat in the coming weeks. The situation suggests a potential leadership shakeup at the PGA, with Monahan’s future hanging in the balance.
The announced merger represents not just a significant shift in the professional golf landscape but also a revealing study of the changing moral stances of leaders when facing substantial monetary prospects. It serves as a potent reminder that truth and integrity should not be commodities up for sale. While business changes may be inevitable, how they are conducted and communicated can have far-reaching impacts on public perception and trust.
"Jay Monahan is the WORST kind of hypocrite…Monahan, do you have a check for 800 million for Tiger Woods? Because that's what he turned down! Not only did you get in bed with the Saudis, you're having a baby with them!"
🎙️@Chris_Broussard & Rob Parker on PGA-LIV Merger pic.twitter.com/83PYRCMWBk
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) June 7, 2023
