As if it were an animal mating ritual, the movements of the pieces in the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in the negotiation they are conducting to reunite golf seem marked. A long time ago, almost at the dawn of these turbulent times of divisions and breakups, expert voices, publicly or privately, warned that there would be no agreement as long as Greg Norman and Jay Monahan were at the forefront of the battle. In other words, they would have to step down first, and then the agreement would come. Well, the Australian from LIV Golf announced days ago that he was stepping aside, and now Monahan has made it public. No leaks or gossip. From his own voice.
Both in an email sent to circuit members and in a video posted on the PGA Tour’s social media, Monahan has announced that the circuit is seeking a new CEO for PGA Tour Enterprises, a position he has held since last March. As in Norman’s case, he hastened to clarify that it does not mean he will disappear from the map; he will still be around, but no longer as the visible head of general management.
“It’s about bringing new perspectives to our team to help us realise the incredible opportunities our sport has ahead, including the search for a CEO of the PGA Tour,” he stated in the aforementioned video.
It should be clarified that Monahan will remain commissioner, will be part of the Tour’s board of directors as a director, something unprecedented for a Tour commissioner, and will participate in the executive director search committee. In Norman’s case, for example, it has not yet been clarified what his role will be from next year.
Arthur Blank, founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and the Atlanta Drive of TGL, will lead the CEO search committee as a member of the Tour Enterprises board. He also chairs the management development and compensation committee. Other members of the search committee include the president of Enterprises, Joe Gorder, CEO of Valero Oil, whose company is the main sponsor of the Valero Texas Open, the director of the Enterprises board, Sam Kennedy, CEO of Fenway Sports Group, as well as player directors Tiger Woods and Adam Scott.
“The leadership of the PGA Tour has made significant progress this year in creating PGA Tour Enterprises,” said Gorder. “Our search for a PGA Tour CEO will build on that momentum and ensure we go further and faster in the new year. We are grateful for Jay’s continued leadership and excited to expand his role with his membership on the PGA Tour Policy Board.”
“Commissioner Monahan and the Board are convinced that hiring a CEO for the PGA Tour is an important next step to help PGA Tour Enterprises reach its tremendous potential,” said Adam Scott, player director on the Board and 14-time Tour winner. “I support their vision of bringing a fresh perspective to the organisation in this vital new role and look forward to serving on the search committee as the process unfolds.” The Tour has also hired Korn Ferry to assist in the external search.
Meanwhile, Monahan announced that Ron Price, Chief Operating Officer of the PGA Tour, will retire at the end of the year after 30 years in the role. His position is not expected to be filled. Price, who represented the Tour before Congress during the 2023 inquiry in Monahan’s health-related absence, was the second-highest-paid employee of the Tour, with total compensation exceeding $13 million.
