Xander Schauffele’s Blunt Jay Monahan Admission Hints at Lurking Distrust: ‘A Long Way to Go’

Almost a year ago, Xander Schauffele said, “I don’t trust people easily. He had my trust and he has a lot less of it now.” He was speaking about the PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan. The 53-year-old alienated a section of the players with a shocking merger announcement on June 6. But perhaps none more so than Schauffele, who called for Monahan’s resignation at one point.

Ten months later, Schauffele doesn’t raise a call for resignation. But speaking from TPC Sawgrass, the PGA Tour headquarters, the 30-year-old frankly admits Monahan still “has a long way to go” to earn players’ trust.

Trust is a tender thing for Xander Schauffele

For Schauffele, “Trust is something pretty tender. Words are words.” And the Tour’s commissioner’s actions haven’t matched his words. “I would say in my book he’s got a long way to go. He could be the guy, but in my book, he’s got a long way to go to gain the trust of the membership.” 

Monahan claimed that he had the support of the board. “Clearly, given the responsibility I’ve been given by both boards, I have the support of our board, and I am the right person to lead us forward,” said the Tour commissioner just a few hours before Schauffele sat for the press conference. In fact, Schauffele’s close friend, Patrick Cantlay affirmed his confidence in Monahan as well.

The 30-year-old feels that’s to be expected. “I’m sure he’s got the support of the board since they were with him making some of those decisions, but for me personally he’s got quite a ways to go,” Xander Schauffele said from Ponte Vedra. This echoes what he said earlier as well. Post the merger agreement announcement, Schauffele was one of the few players who openly called for a leadership change. Even in November, World No. 6, in an interview with Today’s Golfer, said, “I wouldn’t mind seeing some new leadership take place on our circuit.” 

Nevertheless, Jay Monahan has been appointed as the CEO of the PGA Tour Enterprises—the for-profit entity of which PIF, the financial backer of LIV Golf, will also be a part. The Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of big-money sports team owners, is set to invest $3 billion into the newly formed entity. Monahan reiterated that the policy board and all the parties involved remain fully committed to bringing PIF on board. Schauffele, however, doesn’t have a lot of clarity on the matter. 

Schauffele is still in the dark like most of us

The seven-time PGA Tour winner is in the dark about the merger. There has been no clarity on how the LIV golfers would be included after the agreement. Neither does he have any clue about the timeframe. In January, there were speculations that Monahan wanted to wrap it up by the Masters. Asked on the matter, the San Diego State University alum said, “To be completely honest, I would consider myself pretty uninformed. Haven’t really sought out a whole lot of information just because, w, when I felt like I did, I didn’t get any.”

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The 30-year-old is fully focused on his game. From his six outings this year, Xander Schauffele had four top-tens. At Sawgrass, his only goal is to cut through the clutter and hoist the trophy for the first time. That might turn out to be a little awkward because Jay Monahan will be the one to present the silverware on Sunday.

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