The insider perception of Jay Monahan is quite different from how outsiders view him. The 54-year-old PGA Tour commissioner continues to receive a lot of flak for his stewardship of the PGA Tour – LIV Golf merger. The wound runs quite deep; fans booed him as recently as this year’s PLAYERS Championship. 

But Joe Ogilvie, who was recently inducted as the ‘Director Liaison’ at the PGA Tour Enterprises, the newly formed for-profit entity with SSG as an investment partner, insists Monahan might win the ‘Comeback Player of the Year’ award. If that existed, of course.

There have been calls for resignations. Most famously, Xander Schauffele, the 2024 PGA Championship winner, called out Monahan last year. But that perception has changed, claimed Joe Ogilvie in a candid chat with Eamon Lynch. “He’s got a huge amount of respect from his team. The players over time went from, ‘Let’s get rid of this guy’ to ‘This is the guy who’s gonna lead us.’”

There is no doubt that Monahan himself believes so. The PGA Tour commissioner said he is the ‘right person for the job’ at the New York Times Dealbook Summit last October. Ogilvie, though, has no qualms about admitting that Monahan and his trusted soldiers botched up the merger rollout.

Moreover, a long-time sponsor, Honda, has left. Wells Fargo won’t renew its contract beyond this year. The Royal Bank of Canada, the title sponsor of the ongoing Canadian Open, is reportedly unwilling to sign a multi-year extension. 

Ogilvie, however, offered a different perspective. “He’s incredibly good when he’s engaged with sponsors; he’s incredibly good one-on-one with the guys.” Ogilvie further claimed that Monahan understands the needs of SSG, the current partner, and PIF, the future partner, better than anyone else in the room. Asked if the 54-year-old has his trust, Ogilvie didn’t have to think twice before saying yes. 

“Jay is uniquely suited to accomplish the goals of not only what SSG wants, but what the players want. He’s got the respect of other leaders of the game and I think he’s got the respect of the PIF.” Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, met the player-directors of the PGA Tour Policy Board in the Bahamas. Joe Ogilvie was in the room where it happened. And the veteran claims there is mutual respect and trust between His Excellency and Jay Monahan. 

The PIF Governor and Jay Monahan are working in tandem

Ogilvie didn’t share many details from the agenda of the Bahamas meeting other than what has already been offered by Tiger Woods, and a few other player-directors. But the former PGA Tour Pro, said, “It was a very good meeting and you could see that there was a mutual respect between he (sic) and Jay, which is also good.” 

Reportedly, Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan met only once between the June 6 announcement and the Bahamas meeting. Regardless, mutual respect spells well for the future. Joe Ogilvie affirmed that efforts to bring both Tours together are well underway. And, there is goodwill from both sides.

Notably, faith in Jay Monahan has also come from Jack Nicklaus previously. The 18-time Major winner believed that, despite some early missteps, the PGA Tour commissioner actually cares about his players. Ogilvie’s comments, by virtue of coming from a powerful insider, carry more weight. Perhaps, that would pacify Monahan’s detractors a bit more.