Morning 9: Monahan: Pleased with progress | Rory resigns from PGA Tour Policy Board

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Good Wednesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the RSM Classic.

1. Monahan: “Pleased with progress” at policy board meeting

PGATour.com staff report…”Commissioner Monahan also wrote in Tuesday’s memo that the PGA TOUR remains focused on negotiations toward a Definitive Agreement with the PIF and the DP World Tour after a Framework Agreement between the parties was reached June 6. Commissioner Monahan said the TOUR remains focused on the negotiations but characterized the progress as “deliberate,” citing the complex nature of the negotiations.”

• “The Framework Agreement also generated what Commissioner Monahan described as “unsolicited, but unsurprising” interest from outside investors, and several of those proposals were reviewed Monday by the Independent Directors and Player Directors, with input from Allen & Co., the TOUR’s investment bank, and The Raine Group. The potential final minority investor or investors will be selected “in a timely manner,” Commissioner Monahan wrote.”

• “Maintaining and growing comprehensive player earnings is one of several criteria the TOUR is using in evaluating investors’ proposals. TOUR management also has designed a potential program that would award players equity in the newly formed PGA TOUR Enterprises.”

• “This would be a unique offering in professional sports, as no other league grants its players/members direct equity ownership in the league’s business,” Commissioner Monahan wrote. “We recognize – as do all of the prospective minority investors who are in dialogue with us – that the PGA TOUR will be stronger with our players more closely aligned with the commercial success of the business.”

2. New board member

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”The tour also announced that Joseph W. “Joe” Gorder, executive chairman of Valero Energy Corporation, has been unanimously approved to replace former independent director Randall Stephenson on the policy board.”

• “Stephenson, a former AT&T chairman, resigned in protest over the PIF deal.”

• “I am honored to be joining the PGA Tour Policy Board,” Gorder said in a statement. “I’ve truly enjoyed my engagement with the PGA TOUR through the Valero Texas Open, and I am excited to step into this role for the PGA TOUR and its members, as we continue to cultivate growth and success for this proud organization, its passionate fanbase and its engaged communities.”

3. McIlroy: “Loose lips sink ships”

Via BBC’s Ian Carter…”The bids were discussed by the tour earlier this week, but details are scarce. “I think if you were in the middle of it, you would see that there’s a path forward,” McIlroy said.”

• “It’s just that no one on the outside has any details. Loose lips sink ships, so we are trying to keep it tight and within walls. I’m sure when there’s news to tell, it will be told.”

• “More from McIlroy…”I think getting something done sooner rather than later is a good thing,” McIlroy said.”

• “Because you know, even if we get a deal done, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually going to happen.

• “That’s up to the United States government at that point, and whether the Department of Justice think that it’s the right thing to do or whether anti-competitive or whatever.

• “Even if a deal does get done, it’s not a sure thing. So yeah, we are just going to have to wait and see. But in my opinion, the faster something gets done, the better.”

4. Jin Young Ko slated for MRI on knee

Amy Rogers for Golf Channel…”Jin Young Ko will be playing through injury for the third straight year at the CME Group Tour Championship.”

• “Tuesday at Tiburon Golf Club, the two-time Tour Championship winner was seen wearing a brace on her left knee in preparation for the final event of the LPGA season. Ko declined to talk, but her team told GolfChannel.com that the former world No. 1 suffered a knee injury at The Annika and that she began experiencing pain on the fifth hole during the first round of last week’s event. Ko purchased a knee brace on Monday and wore it during Tuesday’s nine-hole practice round and during her time on the practice putting green. Ko’s team said she’s experiencing discomfort when she both walks and swings.”

5. McIlroy “probably” putting a new driver in play

GolfWRX report…”Ergo, McIlroy would relish the opportunity to see if he could level up his off-the-tee game even further (the Ulsterman was second in strokes gained: off the tee in 2022-2023).”

• “It’s anything but surprising, then, that McIlroy has been practicing with the club and told the DP World Tour social media team, “You’ll probably see a new driver in the bag this week.”

• “I still want to go out there and try to win the golf tournament, but it could be a good time to test it out in competition,” McIlroy said of the new TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver.

• “We’ll have to wait until Thursday’s opening round at Jumeirah Golf Estates to see if McIlroy does in fact put the club through its competitive paces.”

6. Chris Kirk given Courage Award

PGATour.com staff report…”The PGA TOUR announced Tuesday that Chris Kirk has been named the recipient of the PGA TOUR Courage Award.”

• “Kirk, 38, took a leave of absence from the TOUR in May of 2019 to address issues of alcohol abuse and depression. He returned to the TOUR later that year after a break of more than six months, regained exempt status in 2021 through a Major Medical Extension, and in 2023 earned his fifth PGA TOUR title and first since 2015.”

• “I didn’t really feel like I was going to play golf again much less be here with all of you and to have won again on the TOUR. I’m really just blown away,” Kirk said Tuesday after receiving the award at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia, where he is playing this week’s RSM Classic. “I’m beyond thankful for my family, especially for Tahnee for staying with me and supporting me through these difficult years. I just am so blessed and thankful to currently live a life better than I could have ever imagined. Just the mental clarity that I wake up with every day is an absolute blessing and a gift.

7. Rory resigns from PGA Tour Policy Board

Adam Woodard for Golfweek…”Rory McIlroy resigned from his position on the PGA Tour Policy Board on Tuesday ahead of the Tour’s final event of 2023, the PGA Tour has confirmed to Golfweek. The news was first reported by the New York Times.”

• “McIlroy, 34, has been the Tour’s most vocal advocate in the two years since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and LIV Golf joined the scene and has also spent considerable time in leadership positions with the Tour. The four-time major champion was a member of the Player Advisory Council from 2019-21 and served as the PAC Chairman in 2021. For the last two years, he has been a Player Director on the Policy Board.”

8. Justin Thomas and Carlos Sainz win Netflix Cup

Reuters report…”Pro golfer Justin Thomas and Formula One driver Carlos Sainz were the first winners in the Netflix Cup, which had quite a bit going on in this first-of-a-kind event Tuesday at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas.”

• “The duo hoisted the Cup together in the postmatch ceremony, with Thomas then drinking from the Cup. Then Sainz had his turn, and he dropped the trophy, which broke.”

• “Thomas and Sainz defeated the tandem of Tony Finau and Pierre Gasly in the closest-to-pin contest on the final hole after the four-team field was cut in half following eight holes of match play.”

9. Photos from the RSM Classic

• Check out all of our galleries from this week’s event.