Xander Schauffele ROASTS Jay Monahan: ‘Right now, we don’t have [a strong leader]’

Xander Schauffele roasted PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan in a new interview as the PGA Champion admitted the players on the TOUR are missing a “strong leader.”

Schauffele has been one of the more vocal players on TOUR regarding the lack of assertiveness and the missing leadership that Monahan has displayed over the past year. Resentment for Monahan has increased over the past year due to his behind-the-back move to work with the Saudi PIF after several players did the TOUR’s bidding by openly stating they had the moral high ground for not working with a controversial group.

Just months later, Monahan had pledged to make a deal with the PIF in a shock announcement last Summer.

Schauffele, in a recent interview with The Times, criticized Monahan and his lack of leadership, which has led to a weird fallout between the players and PGA TOUR brass, who have fought to regain the trust of the vocal golfers.

Credit: Japan Times

Schauffele said:

“What I can say is that throughout all of this turmoil, what’s probably bothered me the most, now more than ever, is that we need someone to lead us; we need a leader.”

Admitting that his job is to go out and play golf, Schauffele has not lost sight of the fact that players have had to step their roles up to basically defuse the situation between the members and the “leadership,” which he believes has fallen apart. The lack of communication between the TOUR’s higher-ups and the players has led to a lack of trust:

“My job is to do what I did and play good golf and be an entertainer and show how exciting golf can be. I’ve criticized Jay in the past, but the fact is not once has our commander-in-chief stood up for all of us players and said, ‘This is happening. This is where we’re going. He didn’t take a stand when anyone left. He didn’t come out to the public and face the music, none of that. Obviously, there were reasons, but historically, in tough situations, you need a strong leader who can make the big waves smaller and make us feel better about what we’re doing. Right now, we don’t have that.”

Schauffele’s victory at Valhalla in May surged rumors of a potential defection to LIV Golf as he would now qualify for Majors for five years.

Xander Schauffele earned his first career major victory at Valhalla Golf Club.

The 2024 PGA Champion caught up with @hallylead after his win. pic.twitter.com/37i2KHev7s

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 20, 2024

However, he dispelled that speculation:

“…my friends used to send me screenshots of me as the favorite to join LIV, and the odds were solely based on me not commenting much, but actions speak louder than words. I’ve shown up to play PGA Tour events week in, week out. I love my job, this is where I’m at, and I don’t really see myself going anywhere else. I had to at least sit down and listen to what was being offered, but once I realized it wasn’t really going to fit in with how I envisioned my career, it just fizzled out.”

It’s no secret that Monahan’s leadership may have pushed several big names out the PGA TOUR door and into the hands of LIV. Combine the lack of leadership that some players have discussed with a big paycheck, and they are more than likely ready to make the jump.

Schauffele, however, is not on board with that. His Dad discussed his potential move just after he won his first Major Championship last month, confirming that legacy is what Xander is about, and the big paycheck won’t win him over.

Cover Image via National Club Golfer