Jay Monahan Coy On PGA Tour-PIF Talks
The PGA Tour commissioner is not giving much away on the status of discussions between the two organizations
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has refused to be drawn how far along negotiations are with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) behind LIV Golf.
Ahead of this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, to coincide with the release of the 2025 PGA Tour Schedule, Monahan faced the media, where he was asked if the release of the schedule meant “there’s not going to be anything with LIV, at least through next year or ’26 or ’27.” He responded: “I think that’s fair.”
While Monahan wouldn’t elaborate on exactly when, or even if, a deal would happen, he insisted the Tour is in a strong place and that discussions with the PIF, headed by governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, are ongoing.
He said: “When you think about where we were, engagement amongst our players, our partners, our fans, our investors I think is really, really high and really strong.
“There's tremendous momentum. I think that's reflected in the energy you see coming in the Playoffs, the '25 schedule, and we've seen and continue to see a lot more innovation, and certainly the conversations with the Public Investment Fund and then an important part of the journey that we're on this year and that we'll continue to be on.
"And as I've said before, you've heard some players comment on, we continue to be in regular dialogue. I'm encouraged by that. But I'm really not going to offer more than that and not negotiate in public.”
Monahan then revealed that, despite the complex nature of the talks, he is “hopeful” of a positive outcome. “These are very complicated discussions,” he said. “There are a lot of elements to them. But when you have the level of interaction, when you're continuing to meet, move forward and discuss and innovate, you can't be anything other than hopeful.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“As it relates to times and time frames and where we are, I'd just say that we're in a good place with the conversations. That's the most important thing.”
It is now over 14 months since the shock announcement that the PGA Tour and the PIF were putting their grievances to one side to try to strike a deal that would see them co-exist at the top of the men’s game.
An initial deadline for an agreement came and went with the New Year, although before March’s Players Championship, Monahan declared talks were “accelerating.”
Since then, influential players, including PGA Tour Policy Board Player Director Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, have attended meetings to try and bring a deal closer. However, for the moment, the waiting game goes on.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Exclusive: 'Wentworth Club Is Not For Sale' - BMW PGA Championship Host Denies Saudi PIF Sale Report
The iconic British club says it is not for sale and has categorically denied a report that it is in talks with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The DP World Tour Play-Offs section of the season begins with the first of two elevated events to decide the Race to Dubai champion
By Mike Hall Published
-
PGA Tour Caddie Gives Fascinating Insight Into Season Earnings
Taking to social media, Ben Silverman's caddie, Bryan Kopsick, revealed just how much he made looping for the PGA Tour player throughout 2024
By Matt Cradock Published
-
9 Big PGA Tour Names Not Signed Up To TGL
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's "tech-infused" league contains 24 of the PGA Tour's best players, but there are still a handful of notable absentees in 2025
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
LIV Golf’s Bubba Watson Returning To The Mic In Star-Studded Match
A host of iconic faces from the world of sport and entertainment will come together for the latest edition of 'The Match' on primetime TV later this month
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
How Much Money Rory McIlroy Has Made Every Year On The PGA And DP World Tours
Rory McIlroy is one of the highest paid golfers in the history of the sport - but how much has he won each year on the PGA and DP World Tours?
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Are The PGA Tour's Signature Events Good Or Bad For The Game?
Two Golf Monthly writers debate whether the PGA Tour's Signature Events have been a welcome addition to the sport or merely a rich-get-richer scheme
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘Step In The Right Direction’ - Peter Malnati Backs Proposed Changes To PGA Tour
Peter Malnati, who is one of the player representatives on the PGA Tour Policy Board, believes proposed changes to the PGA Tour is a good thing for the game
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
What Is Set To Change With The PGA Tour's New Pace Of Play Proposals?
Proposals are to be voted on by the PGA Tour in November to tackle pace of play - but what in particular in set to change, and how will the proposals address the issue?
By Mike Hall Published
-
'If I'm Looking At It Objectively, It Was Needed' - Pro Offers Honest Take On Proposed PGA Tour Changes
PGA Tour golfer Michael Kim admitted he "doesn't love" the proposed changes but admitted it was probably required in order to create a better product for fans and players
By Jonny Leighfield Published