(Reuters) – PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned on Tuesday he is able to transfer on from the specter of a Saudi-backed potential rival league and that Phil Mickelson’s future involvement with the U.S-based circuit stay within the fingers of the six-time main champion.
Mickelson is taking time away from the sport after the creator of an unauthorized biography on him launched excerpts from the e-book through which the golfer known as the Saudis “scary” however that he was keen to cope with them to get leverage with the PGA Tour.
Speaking to reporters forward of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Monahan mentioned he has not talked to Mickelson for the reason that golfer’s feedback surfaced in February however didn’t sound like he needed him to stay in {golfing} exile.
“The ball is in his courtroom,” Monahan mentioned when requested whether or not Mickelson wanted to talk with him earlier than competing on the PGA Tour. “I might welcome a telephone call from him. But it is onerous for me to speak in regards to the completely different situations that might play out.
“Listen, he is a participant that is received 45 instances on the PGA Tour. He’s had a Hall of Fame profession… He’s impressed lots of people and helped develop this Tour, his Tour.
“So as tough as it’s to learn a number of the issues that have been mentioned, in the end a dialog will probably be had when he is able to have it, and I will probably be able to have it, as properly.”
Mickelson apologised two weeks in the past for feedback he claimed have been off the file, however the long-time fan favorite has since discovered himself remoted and has additionally misplaced numerous sponsors.
Monahan, who beforehand advised PGA Tour gamers it was time to maneuver on from distractions associated to the potential rival league, additionally mentioned he by no means felt a necessity to achieve out to Mickelson at any level.
“I do know the person properly sufficient, and I’ve had sufficient conversations with him the place that is not one thing that I believed at that time limit I ought to or wanted to do. Certainly (I) had my telephone on,” mentioned Monahan, who declined to say whether or not Mickelson is suspended.
‘MOVING ON’
The proposed Saudi-financed rival league has taken a large hit in current weeks as numerous the sport’s finest gamers have pledged their allegiance to the PGA Tour, and Monahan is able to flip the web page.
“The PGA Tour is moving on,” mentioned Monahan.
“We have an excessive amount of momentum and an excessive amount of to perform to be persistently distracted by rumours of different golf leagues and their makes an attempt to disrupt our gamers, our companions, and most significantly our followers from having fun with the tour.”
Still, whereas Monahan mentioned he has a very good sense of the place each participant stands on the difficulty he isn’t one to let his guard down.
“I get up every single day assuming somebody is attempting to take my lunch. That’s the best way I function. That’s the best way we function as a staff,” mentioned Monahan.
“So lengthy as we focus on the issues that we management, which is what I’ve at all times tried to do and what we have at all times tried to do as a staff, I feel we’ll win, we’ll develop, and I’m not trying over my shoulder, I’m trying ahead.”
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
