Monahan Praises Trump As Reunification Talks Bolstered By His Willingness To Act As A Facilitator

8 months ago by Comments Off on Monahan Praises Trump As Reunification Talks Bolstered By His Willingness To Act As A Facilitator

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan wasted little time, in fact just under three minutes of his nearly one hour annual address to the media, by addressing efforts to reunify the men’s pro game.

Monahan opened the formal aspect of this annual meeting with the media by going straight to supposed talks in reunifying the men’s pro game and how committed the PGA Tour is committed to this coming together.

“I think I’ve shared our position today,” Monahan said.

“I’ve shared it in the past. I think at this point I don’t have any additional information to share beyond. What I’m optimistic about, what I’m energized by specifically is the momentum that we have with our fans, and I would go back to three elements of the remarks that I made.

“I’d say from point one, we’re committed to these negotiations and to doing everything that we can to drive to reunification for our fans.

“That said, we’re not going to do anything that diminishes the strength of our platform or that momentum that we have with our fans and partners.

“And then importantly, we’re going to continue to take aggressive action with everything that we control to make certain that we’re doing everything in our power to present and evolve the best version of our tour. So that’s how we’re looking at the future and that’s really my focus.”

 

 

Monahan then brought US President Donald Trump into the discussion saying that he, like golf the world over, he wants to see the game reunified and with Monahan suggesting Trump’s involvement has made the prospect very real.

“The talks are real, they’re substantial, and they’re being driven at the top levels of both organizations,” he said.

“Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump’s willingness to serve as a facilitator. President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game’s power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous with his time and influence to help bring a deal together.

“He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified. His involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real. When you’re in the midst of complex negotiations, particularly when you may be near a breakthrough, there are ebbs and flows in the discussion”.

However, it became apparent that any questions from the assembled media dealing with the aspect of the unification process Monahan conventiently avoided them with ‘double talk’.

Including a final question from good friend and colleague, Adam Schupak who asked:

Qn: You used the word ‘urgently’ in your earlier statement.  Can you give us a sense if there a next meeting scheduled? And with Donald Trump and Yasir?

Monahan: There is not a next meeting scheduled as this point.  As I said to you last week that with last week and this week, we definitely have a lot on our plate.

Qn:  Is there any deadline to make to make a deal and, if not, why not?

Monahan: I think it not just that simple.  When you are in the middle of these negotiations, and they are as complext as they are …. the reason I says urgency as there isn’t a time we are operating with.  But there isn’t a country deadline that has been established.

Qn:  Could we be here next year still talking about it?

Monahan:  Listen, I’m focussed on doing everything I can and I have shared with you what I hope our priorites are, and what I can do within our control.



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