Xander Schauffele delivers stinging assessment of PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan’s leadership after LIV Golf merger bombshell: ‘He’s got a long way to go’

Xander Schauffele insisted PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was far from regaining the trust of his players after keeping them in the dark over a merger with LIV Golf’s Saudi sponsors.

PGA Tour members were shocked when news of the framework agreement between the Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund broke on June 6, finding out at the same time as the rest of the world.

Monahan faced backlash in response to his handling of the bombshell, with many players reportedly calling for him to resign during a contentious players’ meeting.

However, Monahan insisted he believed he was still the “right man” for the commissioner’s job as he spoke to the media for the third time since last Tuesday’s shocking news.

In the wake of Monahan’s claims, ahead of this week’s Players Championship, world No. 6 Schauffele was asked if he had confidence in the Tour boss.

“I guess we’ll start with the easiest ones,” Schauffele joked in response to the initial question.

“I mean, you know what I’ve said in the past about how I feel about this,” he finally responded after taking a long pause.

“Trust is a pretty tender thing, so words are words, and I would say in my book that it has a long way to go.” He might be the right person, but in my opinion, he has a long way to go to gain the trust of the members.

“I’m sure he has the support of the board, as they were with him making some of those decisions, but for me personally, he has a long way to go.”

PGA Tour members were kept in the dark for weeks and, as a result, PIF’s plans to merge under a framework agreement with Tiger Woods appointed a sixth player director to the PGA Tour Political Board.

However, Rory McIlroy ultimately made the shocking decision to step down from his position on the PGA Tour board of directors in November at a critical time for his sport.

Monahan admitted Tuesday that his handling of the merger was flawed, saying, “It’s something I’ve talked to our players about.” When you look back on last summer, I could have handled it better. I take full responsibility and accountability for that. That’s up to me.

‘We have moved on and made a lot of progress since that time. I have learned from it. I have felt honored by it. “I think I’ve become stronger as a leader.”

Despite the backlash to his U-turn, Monahan denied that any member of the PGA Tour’s political board had demanded his resignation.

“There have been a lot of lively discussions on our board,” he admitted. “I don’t think this is a surprise to anyone, given the events of last summer.”

“But we are a united front,” he continued. “Our board of directors continues to perform and operate at a very high level, with great support from our player directors and the formation of PGA Tour companies with a new board.”

“I am the right person to guide us forward,” he added. ‘I know that. I believe it in my heart and I am determined to do exactly that.”