Rory McIlroy says he still has confidence in Jay Monahan to carry on in his role amid calls for the PGA Tour commissioner to resign.
McIlroy was speaking for the first time since the shock announcement that the established tours - the PGA and DP World Tours - had agreed to merge with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia that bankrolls LIV Golf.
The Northern Irishman was one of the most outspoken critics of LIV Golf, becoming the de facto voice of the PGA Tour, admitting this deal has left him feeling like a "sacrificial lamb".
But despite that, McIlroy still thinks Monahan is the right man for the job, pointing to his track record in business and the respect he is held in by colleagues and those who have dealt with him.
McIlroy also says he understands the “anger” some are feeling now that LIV golfers are set to be able to regain their PGA Tour status, but is adamant that any returning players who defected to the PIF-funded circuit will be punished.
"I do, yeah," McIlroy said, when asked if he still had confidence in Monahan at his eagerly anticipated press conference before the RBC Canadian Open. "Look, I've dealt with Jay a lot closer than a lot of those guys have. From where we were a couple of weeks ago to where we are today, I think the future of the PGA Tour looks brighter as a whole, as an entity.
"What that looks like for individual players in terms of keeping a Tour card and bringing players back into the fold and then that sacrifices other people, that's where the anger comes from, right. And I understand that.
"There still has to be consequences to actions. The people that left the PGA Tour irreparably harmed this Tour, started litigation against it. Like, we can't just welcome them back in. Like, that's not going to happen.
"And I think that was the one thing that Jay was trying to get across yesterday is like, 'Guys, we're not just going to bring these guys back in and pretend like nothing's happened'. That is not going to happen.
"So I do have confidence in him [Monahan]. I think you ask the people around him that deal with him in a business sense, whether it's the directors of the board of the PGA Tour. or the title sponsors that he deals with, I mean, he seems to be a very impressive individual when it comes to business."
-
Short Putts... Dead-Weight Or Firm? Our Experts Debate This Common ConundrumStanding over a short putt with the match on the line is enough to make even the best putter feel a little uneasy. But, is it best to hit dead-weight or firm?
-
TGL Off To Strong Start After ESPN Viewing Figures ReleasedThe first night of TGL action drew viewing figures that peaked at over one million says broadcaster ESPN
-
Report: Viewing Figures For The Showdown Lower Than Most Editions Of The MatchThe Las Vegas contest, which saw PGA Tour stars play LIV golfers, reportedly had relatively disappointing viewing figures across two networks that broadcast it
-
What Rory McIlroy Thinks The TGL Will Do 'A Little Bit Better' Than LIV GolfThe Boston Common Golf player believes the team element of the TGL will be more appealing to fans than the LIV Golf format
-
Rory McIlroy And Scottie Scheffler Spotted Wearing Prototype Nike Shoes At The ShowdownThe World No.1 and No.3 have worn Nike footwear for years and, in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the pair were spotted donning some never-seen before models
-
The Coat, Hit-It-Further Juice, And Player's Dad Struck With Ball: The Showdown Moments You Might Have MissedScottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy cruised to victory at the much-anticipated TV match against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, and there were a handful of notable moments along the way at Shadow Creek
-
The Showdown Payout: What Did Scottie Scheffler And Rory McIlroy Win In Vegas?Scheffler and McIlroy dominated proceedings at The Showdown and, in the process, secured a $5 million payday each in the form of the crypto-based coin 'CRO'
-
How To Watch The Showdown: Live Stream, TV Channels For Scheffler & McIlroy vs Koepka & DeChambeauThe PGA Tour vs LIV Golf League pairs match is being played for a reported purse of $10million in cryptocurrency
-
The Showdown: What You Need To Know Ahead Of PGA Tour Vs LIV Golf ClashScottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are preparing to take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in an exhibition match at Shadow Creek Golf Club
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To FruitionRory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
