In recent years, Jay Monahan’s management of the PGA Tour has come under fire, and several prominent figures on the circuit have criticized the commissioner.
After being accused of caving in to the demands of the elite players on the American circuit, Jay Monahan has once again found himself the target of a PGA Tour player.
Many have questioned Monahan’s leadership during the past year in response to the PGA Tour’s decision to reverse course and align itself with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). Low-ranking officials have also criticized the commissioner’s decision to institute 70-man “Signature Events” with elevated purses.
This week, Muirfield Village is hosting the seventh of eight Signature Events. In the Memorial Tournament, a select group of the biggest names on the circuit are vying for a prize money of £15.7 million ($20 million).
World No. 125 Nate Lashley took offense at being left out of the elevated events and blamed Monahan. This hurts the feelings of many Tour members. “Our No. 1 event is the Players, with a 144-man field,” Lashley stated to Golfweek.
“Why are these signature events, which are supposed to be so good, only 70 if that’s the best field of the entire year? It is illogical. Take a look at the Players’ performance this year. Things remain more confined and tight when there is greater competition. It spreads things out to have fields with no cuts.
“But that’s what happens; we have a commissioner who is a chicken… and won’t stand up to a few guys.” It’s not fair to compare placing in the top 10 of a restricted field to a 144- or 156-man field. It isn’t even near. There’s no way to compare. This is far more difficult. Not surprisingly, Lashley is not the only participant in the Tour to feel let down.
It seemed that the decision to add the Signature Event was made in order to counter the threat posed by LIV Golf, who were successful in luring in several prestigious players from the PGA Tour. While fellow professional Mark Hubbard is aware of the Tour’s efforts to retain its best players, he believes the elite circuit in sports is displacing the others.
“I understand that we are attempting to retain the best players here, but we had to take action to reduce the level of play as it has,” Hubbard remarked. It’s difficult because, in my opinion, we have simply forgotten that there are 70 men on the Korn Ferry Tour who have the potential to win tomorrow.
“The Tour has chosen to keep it that way, so there are just so many people playing really good golf right now that the world is unaware of who they are. I’m not speaking of supporting cast members, but rather extremely talented men. The Tour will hold one more Signature Event later this month at the Travelers, following this week’s Memorial.
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