“Everything Is Said and Done”: Jon Rahm Boldy Answers a Blunt Question Directed at Jay Monahan’s Future Post the $3B Merger

Tensions have been high since the news of the PGA Tour’s merger with the Saudi-backed circuit. When news of the new union first came to light, many top players expressed anger and betrayal towards Jay Monahan, mainly for the lack of transparency from the Tour leadership. However, have those ill feelings now passed with the months that have passed since? Well, perhaps a little, as per Jon Rahm.

Ahead of the FedEx Cup Jude championship, the candid and ever-honest Spaniard has opened up about Monahan. And prompted by a blunt question about the PGA Tour chief’s job, Rahm had tons to say!

Jon Rahm recalls the good Jay Monahan has done

Wednesday, August 9th, marks the FedEx St. Jude Championship initiation—the first event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Rahm sits in the No. 1 spot of the playoff rankings, something he had dreamed of at the start of the PGA Tour season. And even though the FedEx Cup is the highlight of the PGA Tour, the focus is not completely on it. The news of the merger is gaining momentum and drawing attention from the playoffs.

In an interview last Tuesday, ahead of the event, Jon Rahm answered more questions about the merger than his game. And through his responses, the golf pro expressed faith in Jay Monahan, especially while answering a very blunt question: “Considering everything that’s happened over the past two months, do you think Jay Monahan should keep his job?”

Maintaining a sea of calmness on his face, Rahm stated, “I think he should have the opportunity right now to finish this off the way he did. I think we’re quickly forgetting how well he managed a lot of things. He did an amazing job in COVID and kept a lot of people employed. We were the first major sport to come back.”

The Spaniard added, “A lot of players were able to earn their cards and keep competing thanks to that.” The two-time major winner believes that the good Monahan has done should not be forgotten just because of one possibly wrong action. “Again, we should give him the chance to see this through,” he said. “Then, after everything is said and done, if players want to make a change, then that would be a better time, but right now I don’t think it is.”

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One should give credit where it is due. In 2020, Monahan ensured the PGA Tour did not suffer because of the pandemic. In the absence of fans and the presence of strict medical screening, the matches continued, and the game did not stop. But, despite the support the reigning Masters champion had for Jay Monahan, he also expressed some displeasure.

Rahm hopes that the PGA Tour will make meaningful choices

Even though the PGA Tour star was all for having an open mind towards the upcoming changes that the Tour was proposing, that did not stop him from expressing his displeasure about the signature events. As per him, the qualifying formats already in place for next season’s signature events should be good enough to decide who completes the field.

However, the PGA Tour has a different approach. Their goal is to have as many players play as possible. And hence these events will receive four sponsor exemptions. Rahm voiced his hope that the exemptions would not just be distributed to anybody but players who got close but did not manage to make the cut. He claimed that he wants these opportunities to be used in a meaningful manner.

The champion certainly has once again not shied away from sharing his opinions with the public. What do you think about everything that he said? Tell us in the comments below.

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