Billy Horschel backs Monahan amid resignation calls after LIV Golf merger update

28 July 2023 , 09:33

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Billy Horschel backs Monahan amid resignation calls after LIV Golf merger update

Billy Horshcel has defended Jay Monahan, after the commissioner provided a memo to all players in regard to what comes next for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Monahan shocked the sport on June 6, after announcing the PGA Tour had reached an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). The deal will see the Tour work alongside rivals LIV Golf, as well as the DP World Tour under one entity named 'NewCo'.

The announcement did not go down well with most, with a number of Tour players complaining about the lack of clarity and information in regard to the PIF agreement. Following the decision Monahan held a player meeting at the RBC Canadian Open, which he described as 'heated'.

Tour veteran Johnson Wagner also listened in, revealing to Golf Channel soon after that there were calls for the commissioner to resign. Monahan then temporarily stepped down from his role on medical grounds, but has made his return with a bang this week.

In his player memo, the Tour boss revealed there would be a 'Player Benefit Program' that would offer some sort of compensation to those who turned down LIV Golf to remain with the PGA Tour. This comes as the commissioner also opened the door to LIV players wanting to make a return, after revealing there would be a 'Player Discipline task force' that would to develop 'potential pathways' for rebel players wanting to reapply for membership.

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One man who has welcomed Monahan's return and the update is Horschel. Speaking at this week's 3M Open, he said: "Listen, I’m very happy that Jay's back. I think we all respect Jay and understand he’s done a tremendous job for the PGA Tour in his tenure as commissioner. I’m a massive fan of Jay.

Billy Horschel had his say on the player memo (Getty Images)

"I know he cares a lot about the players, he cares a lot about this tour and sometimes that can get lost, people can forget about that." Praising the transparency provided after weeks of speculation, Horschel went on: "At the end of the day, being more transparent is what we all would like out here.

"Understand that they always can't be transparent to the fullest effect because there's just things you can't, you know, tell us right away. Things aren't done, deals aren't done, framework, stuff like that is still in the early stages. So it's a step in the right process for the guys out here how, you know, felt a little hurt by the way things went down.

"So kudos to Jay and to the PGA Tour to taking a step forward and trying to be more transparent going forward." The American star also went on to reiterate the point that the circuit is a 'member-input tour' rather than a 'member-run organization'."

Joshua Lees