‘Hypocrite’ PGA chief Jay Monahan defends secrecy behind stunning move to merge with LIV Golf
- PGA Tour commissioner Monahan says he accepts he will be branded ‘a hypocrite’ for changing his position so swiftly
- Monahan has spent past two years railing against Saudi Arabia-backed venture, insisting it had no place in the sport
Players and officials from across the golfing world, including the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, were kept in the dark, with most not learning of the shocking move until PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan and Saudi money man Yasir Al-Rumayyan appeared on television to reveal the new venture.
Woods is reported to have turned down an offer in the region of US$800 million to join LIV last year, while McIlroy is reported to have rejected a US$400 million offer to switch circuits.
Monahan defended the need to keep the number of people who knew about the merger to a trusted few, and also accepted that he would be considered a hypocrite for getting into bed with a group he had previously vowed never to work with.
The PGA Tour chief – who has railed against LIV since its inception while simultaneously lobbying star tour players to resist huge paydays to join the circuit – attended a tense meeting with players at the Canadian Open in Toronto on Tuesday.
