PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan Gets Cold Reception at Tour Championship

It appeared as though fans were not pleased to hear from Monahan, presumably in response to the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with LIV Golf.

Moments after Viktor Hovland became the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made an appearance on East Lake’s 18th green.  But when he was introduced by CBS’s Amanda Renner, the crowd’s reception did not match the outwardly positive response to Hovland’s win. 

“Without further ado, let me introduce Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, for a few remarks and to welcome our champion to the green,” Renner said. 

Before she could finish her sentence, a series of boos and jeers erupted from the surrounding hospitality structures.

Monahan did not acknowledge the cold crowd reaction, instead opening his statement by highlighting the PGA Tour’s fan support.  

“I want to first start off by thanking all the great fans of the PGA Tour,” Monahan said while boos continued to linger. 

He then proceeded to acknowledge Hovland for his stellar season-long play.

Since the announcement of the PGA Tour’s "framework agreement" with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund—the backer of LIV Golf—Monahan has been under immense scrutiny. 

Several top PGA Tour players have expressed their concerns with the commissioner’s leadership, citing their lack of trust in Monahan after he spearheaded the PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal with almost no player input. 

“He had my trust. And he has a lot less of it now. I don’t stand alone when I say that,” Xander Schauffele said ahead of this year’s British Open. 

In a recent roundtable discussion with the media, Monahan acknowledged that he must work to rebuild his standing with the Tour membership, and admitted that the rollout of the agreement was heavily flawed. 

“It was ineffective and as a result there was a lot of misinformation,” Monahan said. “And anytime you have misinformation that can lead to mistrust. And that’s my responsibility. That’s me and me alone. I take full accountability for that. I apologize for putting players on their back foot.”

But Monahan maintains that the framework agreement will move the Tour in a positive direction.  

On the eve of this year’s U.S. Open, Monahan took a leave of absence due to a medical emergency, which later he explained was due to anxiety, triggered by the fallout of the deal. 

“I was dealing with anxiety, which created physical and mental health issues and challenges for me," Monahan said.

Monahan returned to his duties on July 17. The PGA Tour-LIV Golf alliance has a Dec. 31 deadline for completion.