PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan explained PGA’s decision to ban players from LIV Golf “I guess I would answer the question (of why players cannot do both) by asking a question, and that is, why do they need us so badly? Because those players have chosen to sign multi-year lucrative contracts to play in a series of exhibition matches against the same players over and over again,” Monahan said at the RBC Canadian Open, as quoted by skysports.
“You look at that versus what we see here today, and that’s why they need us so badly. You’ve got true, pure competition, the best players in the world here at the RBC Canadian Open, with millions of fans watching, and in this game it’s true and pure competition that creates the profile and presence of the world’s greatest players.
“That’s why they need us, that’s what we do, but we’re not going to allow players to free-ride off of our loyal members, the best players in the world.”
Jay Monahan: Why is this group spending so much money
Monahan is furious because he is aware of the main motive of the players to perform at LIV Golf.
LIV Golf leaders have repeatedly stressed that the goal is ‘golf progress’ and that this is a ‘new era of golf’ However, Monahan disagrees.
“It (the money) is not an issue for me, because I don’t work for the Saudi Arabian government,” he said.
“But it probably is an issue for players that chose to go and take that money. I think you have to ask yourself the question, why? “Why is this group spending so much money, billions of dollars, recruiting players and chasing a concept with no possibility of a return? At the same time, there has been a lot of question and comments about ‘growth of the game’ and I ask, ‘how is this good for the game we love?'”
