It’s been a while since the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced their plans to merge, but the deal remains elusive. Tiger Woods recently expressed his disappointment at the delay, saying that he, like many others, had hoped for a quicker resolution. Despite the holdup, Woods remains optimistic, stating that “things are moving” and that progress is being made daily. The merger’s complexity, involving the US Department of Justice’s antitrust division and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, has likely contributed to the delay.

With the proposed deadline of December 31st looming, fans and players alike are eagerly awaiting an update on the merger’s status. Amid this another controversy is boiling up in the world of golf and of course, the main character is Jay Monahan. The PGA Tour commissioner‘s whopping $23 million salary has sparked a firestorm of criticism, with analysts and former PGA Tour pros alike joining forces to express their outrage and contempt for the PGA Tour commissioner. The backlash comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the PGA Tour navigates a precarious merger with the LIV Golf tour. Many are questioning whether Monahan’s hefty salary is justified, given the tour’s current struggles.

The criticism is not just about the number itself, but also about the perceived disconnect between Monahan’s salary and the performance of the PGA Tour. As one analyst pointed out, “With all the bad publicity and just where we’re in this stagnant period… it just doesn’t seem like he’s doing a very good job”, in the latest episode of No Laying Golf on Youtube. The fact that Monahan’s salary has increased significantly since 2021, from $14 million to $23 million, has only added fuel to the fire. The disparity between Monahan’s salary and that of the players has also raised eyebrows. The criticism is not just about Monahan’s salary, but also about the broader issues plaguing the PGA Tour. As one analyst concluded, “It’s just a tough message to send, even to players… it’s like, man, that’s not right.”

This isn’t the first time Monahan has been attacked on the matter of the zeros in his paycheck. 

The PGA Tour Commisner is in deep waters

The criticism and contempt surrounding Jay Monahan’s lucrative compensation package is not new to the avid fans and followers of the PGA Tour. In fact, the commissioner has faced similar backlash in the past, with many labeling him the “worst commissioner in golf history.” The disparity between Monahan’s pay and that of the golfers has long been a point of contention, with many feeling that the PGA Tour’s priorities are misplaced.

The latest revelation that Monahan earned a staggering $23.1 million in 2023 has only added fuel to the fire, with golfers and fans alike expressing their outrage and disappointment. Wesley Bryan, a professional golfer who earned a relatively modest $989,580 in the 2024 season, succinctly summed up the sentiment when he joked that Monahan was “77x more valuable” than him. The criticism surrounding Monahan’s compensation package is unlikely to die down anytime soon, and it remains to be seen how the PGA Tour will address the concerns of its fans and followers.