PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan talks about the decision to cancel the last three days of The Players Championship because of the coronavirus during a press conference Friday, March 13, 2020 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. [Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union] Fljax 031320 2playersfrida
By Kevin Harrish on

While LIV Golf has been poaching golf’s biggest stars for the past several months with the promise of massive guaranteed contracts, there’s a chance that some of those defecting players may want to rejoin the PGA Tour in the future. But PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan won’t be welcoming them back.

During an appearance at the Tour Championship on Wednesday, Monahan had a very clear and also very blunt message to any defecting golfer currently playing with LIV Golf thinking about returning to the PGA Tour: “No.”

“As I’ve been clear throughout, every player has a choice, and I respect their choice, but they’ve made it,” Monahan said, according to Golf Digest. “We’ve made ours. We’re going to continue to focus on the things that we control and get stronger and stronger.

“I think they understand that.”

While these comments are certainly honest and attention-grabbing, Monahan declined to discuss the matter further, citing the recent lawsuit between several LIV Golf players and the PGA Tour.

“As it relates to any of the scenarios for LIV players and coming back, I’ll remind you that we’re in a lawsuit,” Monahan said. “They’ve sued us. I think talking about any hypotheticals at this point doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

While many of golf’s top stars did defect to LIV Golf, the Tour is making some changes that will make the game more appealing to both the players and fans, including a brand new “tech-infused” league led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new company.

Perhaps that will make players want to come back. But Monahan made it clear they are unwelcome.

[Golf Digest]

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