Jay Monahan talks SSG, PGA Tour schedule (FULL PRESSER) | Live From The Players | Golf Channel

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan talks about the PGA Tour’s partnership with SSG and negotiations with PIF, the ideas for a world tour and signature events, his future as the PGA Tour’s leader and more. #GolfChannel #LiveFromThePlayers #JayMonahan
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Jay Monahan talks SSG, PGA Tour schedule (FULL PRESSER) | Live From The Players | Golf Channel
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>>> GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE 2024 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. CELEBRATING OUR 50th PLAYING THIS YEAR. WE’RE EXCITED TO KICK OFF OUR PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE WITH PGA TOUR JAY MONAHAN. AS A REMINDER, I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THIS, WHEN WE OPEN UP, PLEASE WAIT FOR A MIC TO BE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE VOLUNTEERS. JAY, A WELCOME FROM YOU AND A COUPLE OPENING REMARKS BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND OUR FRIENDS HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, JAY. IS THE MIC OVER HERE? >>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVENTS DEBUTED WON BY JACK NICKLAUS AT ATLANTA COUNTRY CLUB IN 1974. THE THREE-TIME WINNER OF THE PLAYERS, JACK IS ON HAND THIS WEEK TO HELP US COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION AND CELEBRATE HIS IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF

THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. HOW THIS EVENT HAS GROWN, IN SIZE, SCOPE, AND IMPACT, OVER THE PAST FIVE DECADES IS SOMETHING WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF. AND WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON DELIVERING THE BEST CHAMPIONSHIP TO OUR PLAYERS, FANS AND PARTNERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR MARKS THE

LARGEST BUILD-OUT IN PLAYERS’ HISTORY. FOR THOSE ENJOYING THE PLAYERS AT HOME, THE 22 HOURS PRESENTED ON NBC, GOLF CHANNEL AND PEACOCK WILL HAVE LIMITED COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTIONS. AND PGA TOUR LIVE ON ESPN+ WILL DELIVER MORE THAN 150 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE. AMONG OUR 43 INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

PARTNERS WHO WILL PROVIDE COVERAGE IN 200 PLUS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES IN 29 LANGUAGES THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A RECORD 17 WHO ARE PRODUCING THEIR LIVE TELECAST HERE AT TPC SAWGRASS. NOW, I’D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEE SMITH, DIRECTOR OF GOLF

COURSE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS. JEFF MROTSPLOTS. AND THE YEAR-ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP. THE STADIUM COURSE IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND AS ALWAYS WILL BE ONE OF THE STARS OF THE SHOW THIS WEEK. THERE IS NO DOUBT WE WILL CROWN OUR MOST DESERVING CHAMPION ON SUNDAY. ONE WHO FACES NOT ONLY THE

CHALLENGE OF THE STADIUM COURSE BUT A FIELD WHOSE HALLMARK IS AT STRENGTH AND DEPTH. FINALLY, I’D LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS, COMCAST BUSINESS, OPTIMUM AND THE PLAYERS HAVE IMPACTED 300 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA OVER THE YEARS. OUR SPONSORS ARE SUCH AN

INTEGRAL PART OF THE PGA TOUR, AND THIS COMMITMENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION GOES BEYOND DOLLARS AND CENTS. THEY ARE TRUE PARTNERS. AS WE APPROACH $4 BILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING AS AN ORGANIZATION, THEIR SUPPORT, AND THAT OF OUR TOURNAMENT, MAKES IT IMMENSELY PROUD OF THE POD

IMPACT THE PLAYERS IN ALL OF OUR EVENTS MAKE EACH AND EVERY WEEK. THE PGA TOUR HAS UNDERGONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WITH PROGRESS ACCELERATING SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE’VE LISTENED CLOSELY TO OUR FANS AND PLAYERS TO CREATE A NEW

SCHEDULE AND COMPETITIVE STRUCTURE THAT IS MORE COMPELLING, ALL WHILE MAINTAINING WHAT MAKES THE PGA TOUR SO SPECIAL. A TRUE, COMPETITIVE MERITOCRACY. AND THE LOOK OF CHANGES FROM 2017, INCLUDES MOVING THE PLAYERS FROM MARCH TO MAY PGA WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOWS TO US

HAVE EVENTS IN AUGUST PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NFL AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON. EARLY RETURNS FOR 2024 SHOW THAT FIELD STRENGTH, PLAYER PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS FOR FULL FIELD AND SIGNATURE EVENTS ARE STRONG AND DELIVERING ON BASED ON PROJECTIONS. YEAR-TO-DATE DATA INCLUDES THE

FOLLOW, WE HAVE 49 TOP PLAYERS OUTSIDE THE TOP 50 WHO HAVE COMPETED IN SIGNATURE EVENTS WITH THE AON SWING 5 AND AON NEXT 10. WE’RE CURRENTLY TRACKING AT A 60% RETENTION RATE AMONG THE TOP 50. AND USING DATA COMPARING PARTICIPATION FROM THE TOP 50

AND THE TOP 125 IN THE FEDEXCUP STANDINGS IN 2023 — VERSUS 2023, THE STRENGTH OF THE FIELD HAS IMPROVED BY MORE THAN 30%. BETTER YET, THE REIMAGINE SCHEDULE IS DELIVERING THE PGA TOUR ETHOS. FEWER COMPETITION WHICH SHOWS JUST HOW HARD WINNING IS. THREE ROOKIES WHO TOOK

DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE PGA TOUR HAS ALREADY ENTERED THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN 2024. NICK DONEUNLAP THE FIRST TO WIN MATTHIEU PAVON, SITS THIRD IN THE FEDEXCUP STANDINGS AND KORN FERRY TOUR GRADUATE JAKE KNAPP. WE’VE ALSO WITNESSED THE GAME’S ELITE EXCELLING ON THE BIGGEST

STAGE, HIDEKI MATSUYAMA SUNDAY SCHOOL AT THE GENESIS INVITATIONAL WHO BECOME THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED ASIAN PLAYER IN PGA TOUR HISTORY. WYNDHAM CLARK WINNING HIS SECOND SIGNATURE EVENT AT THE AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM ON A 60 AT PEBBLE BEACH. AND LAST WEEK, WORLD NUMBER ONE, SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, PULLED AWAY

FROM A STACKED LEADERBOARD WITH A MASTER CLASS PERFORMANCE AT THE ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD TO TAKE OVER THE LEAD IN THE FEDEXCUP STANDINGS. WHILE IT’S STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF STARS AND FAN FAVORITES WHO

HAVEN’T HOISTED A TROPHY YET IN 2024. THEY KNOW IT, AND IN TALKING TO THEM, THEY’RE LOOKING TO PUT AN END TO THAT NARRATIVE AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK. THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR ATHLETES, THE STRENGTH OF OUR BUSINESS MODEL AND THE FACT THAT GOLF IS

BOOMING IS BECOMING MORE MAINSTREAM AND ALLOWED FOR THE RECENT LAUNCH OF PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES WHICH I BELIEVE WILL FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORM THE ORGANIZATION AND THE GAME OF GOLF FOR THE BETTER. HISTORICALLY, OUR STRUCTURE HAS LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS INTO THIS BOARD.

WITH PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES, WITH OUR 13-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOW IN PLACE, AND THE PARTNERSHIP OF STRATEGIC SPORTS GROUP, WE CHANGED THAT DYNAMIC AND UNLEASHED OUR POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE GROWTH. AND WITH OUR PLAYER EQUITY PROGRAM WHICH IS A FIRST IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, OUR

INTERESTS AND THOSE OF OUR PLAYERS, WILL BE MORE DEEPLY ALIGNED. OUR BUSINESS THRIVES WHEN TOGETHER, WE’RE ALL LASER FOCUSED ON DELIVERING FOR OUR FANS, IF WE FAIL ON THAT FRONT, WE FAIL ON EVERY FRONT. THREE WEEKS AGO, WE HAD OUR FIRST POLICY BOARD MEETING SINCE

SSG BECAME AN INVESTOR. THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT MEETING FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON HOW WE CAN PLACE OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS AT THE CENTER OF OUR DECISIONMAKING. WE’VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH WITH OUR FANS AND WHAT THEY’RE TELLING US TODAY IS SIMPLE. THEY LOVE GOLF AND THEY’RE LOYAL

TO THE PGA TOUR. THEY’RE TIRED ABOUT HEARING ABOUT CONFLICT, MONEY AND WHO IS GETTING WHAT. THEY WANT TO WATCH THE WORLD’S BEST GOLFERS COMPETE IN TOURNAMENTS WITH HISTORY, MEANING AND LEGACIES ON THE LINE. AT VENUES THEY RECOGNIZE AND LOVE. THEY ALSO WANT TO KNOW HOW WE’RE

PLANNING TO MAKE THE SPORT MORE ENTERTAINING AND EASIER FOR THEM TO WATCH AND FOLLOW. FANS ARE ALSO TELLING US WHAT AN EVEN MORE COMPELLING PRODUCT COULD LOOK LIKE. ON OUR BROADCAST PLATFORM, IT’S MORE GOLF SHOTS, FEATURING MORE PLAYERS, MORE DATA AND ANALYTICS, AND MORE INSIGHTS TO

RENOVATIONS LIKE MICCED UP SEGMENTS. ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, IT’S TECHNOLOGY THAT’S FAST, SIMPLE AND INTUITIVE. WHERE FANS CAN EASILY LOCATE THEIR FAVORITE PLAYER’S PERFORMANCE, BETTER ENGAGE IN GAMING OPPORTUNITY. AND OUR TOURNAMENT SITES IT’S THE REVOLUTION OF FAN JOURNEY FROM TICKETING, TO PARKING, TO

HOSPITALITY, TO ENTERTAIN TO 5G. WITH EXPERTISE FROM SSG AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR POLICY BOARD, PLAYER DIRECTORS AND A MEMBERSHIP, MORE ALIGNED WITH OUR GROWTH THAN EVER BEFORE, WE ARE ACTIVELY ASCCESSING A NUMBE OF OPTIONS. YOU CAN SEE ONE TAKING SHAPE

RIGHT HERE IN PONTE VEDRA WITH THE WORLD CLASS CONTENT STUDIO NEARING COMPLETION. WHEN PGA TOUR STUDIOS LAUNCHES NEXT WE’RE, IT WILL HELP BRING US LIVE GOCHLLF AND MORE LIVE CONTENT IN A MORE DYNAMIC WAY, BRINGING THEM CLOSER TO OUR PLAYERS AND CLOSER TO OUR SPORT.

I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE ACHIEVING AS AN ORGANIZATION. BUT I DO KNOW EVERYONE IS CURIOUS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PIF. AS I SAID ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, YOU CAN’T NEGOTIATE A

DEAL LIKE THIS IN PUBLIC, SO I WILL BE BRIEF. I RECENTLY MET WITH THE GOVERNOR OF THE PIF, AND OUR NEGOTIATIONS ARE ACCELERATING AS WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER. WHILE WE HAVE SEVERAL KEY ISSUES THAT WE STILL NEED TO WORK THROUGH, WE HAVE A SHARED VISION

TO QUIET THE NOISE AND UNLOCK GOLF’S WORLDWIDE POTENTIAL. IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME BUT I REITERATE WHAT I SAID AT THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN AUGUST. I SEE A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR THE PGA TOUR AND THE SPORT AS A WHOLE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I SEE A

POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR OUR GREAT FANS. DESPITE THE DISTRACTIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, FANS, SPONSORS AND COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO VALUE AND ENGAGE WITH THE PGA TOUR. AND I HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE THAN EVER IN THE FUNDAMENTAL STRENGTH OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WE OFFER A SCHEDULE AND A

COMPETITIVE STRUCTURE THAT SHOWCASES THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYERS. SPONSORS PARTNER WITH US AT OUR EVENTS TO HELP TELL THEIR STORIES TO AN AUDIENCE OF LOYAL FANS AROUND THE GLOBE AND HELP CREATE CAN’T MISS EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR CLIENTS. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BRING THESE

EVENTS TO LIFE WITH THE BACKING OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE. AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THE PGA TOUR EVENTS ARE DIRECTED RIGHT BACK INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES IN THE FORMS OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ANNUAL CHARITABLE GIVING. WHETHER IT’S PONTE VEDRA BEACH

OR FT. WORTH, CHARLOTTE OR MEMPHIS, OR ONE OF THE MANY OTHER CITIES WE RETURN TO EACH OTHER FOR DECADES, THAT FORMULA IS WHAT HAS MADE US A BEDROCK INSTITUTION IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS MISSION-DRIVEN FORMULA.

AND AS I CLOSE, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR FANS. OUR MOST IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT, AND ONES THAT MAYBE HAVEN’T FELT THEIR VOICES HEARD LATELY. ALL OF THIS TALK ABOUT INVESTMENT AND GROWTH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE’RE FOCUSING THAT ENERGY ON BRINGING FORTH

THE MOST COMPETITIVE AND ENTERTAINING TOUR POSSIBLE FOR YOU. IT’S MY COMMITMENT AND IT’S OUR PLAYERS COMMITMENT. THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME FOR THE SPORT WE ALL LOVE. AND WE’RE EXCITED TO TAKE THE LEAD. THANK YOU. AND I’M HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE’VE GOT A COUPLE UP HERE. >> JAY, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE LAST THREE OR SO YEARS, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? >> THERE ARE ALWAYS, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK THINGS YOU’D DO DIFFERENTLY. I THINK I’VE BEEN ASKED THIS

QUESTION AT — YOU KNOW, AT PRIOR SESSIONS WITH THE MEDIA. IT’S SOMETHING I’VE TALKED TO OUR PLAYERS ABOUT. BUT OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK TO LAST SUMMER, I COULD HAVE HANDLED THAT BETTER. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT. THAT’S ON ME.

SO WE’VE MOVED ON AND WE’VE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME. AND I HAVE LEARNED FROM IT. I’VE BEEN HUMBLED BY IT. I THINK I’VE GOTTEN STRONGER AS A LEADER. AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE’VE MADE, SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME,

SOME OF WHICH I JUST TALKED ABOUT, IT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, THE SSG’S INVESTMENT IN THE PGA TOUR AND THE PROSPECTS THAT THAT BRINGS FORWARD, I COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE — THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED BUSINESS WHEN YOU HAVE OVER 200 PLUS

BUSINESSES, 150 RGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITIES YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, I’M REALLY PROUD OF OUR PLAYERS, I’M REALLY PROUD OF MY TEAM MEMBERS. JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I FEEL LIKE AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE’VE COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

I EXPECT LAST TIME I’M IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU, WE’LL HAVE A LOT MORE PROGRESS TO REPORT. BUT I FEEL — THAT’S ONE AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, I’LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO — THAT’S ONE AREA I’LL DON’T FOCUS ON GETTING BETTER. >> JAY, BACK HERE.

AS YOU TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE CHANGES TO THE TOUR’S ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT, TO MAYBE IMPROVE ITS VALUE. I’M WONDERING HOW YOU DELIVER A RETURN ON THE SSG’S INVESTMENT? >> WELL, IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, AND IT’S WHY I AM SPEAKING TO

AND WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON OUR FANS. WE’RE IN SUCH AN UNIQUE MOMENT IN TIME, AS A SPORT, WHERE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, IN 2023, THERE WAS MORE ROUNDS — MORE ROUNDS OF GOLF PLAYED THAN

AT ANY OTHER POINT IN HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT PARTICIPATION IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. WE ARE BECOMING A YOUNGER, MORE INCLUSIVE SPORT. WE’VE GOT MORE WOMEN PLAYING THE GAME. WE ARE TRULY GLOBAL. AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE FANDOM, TO BRING OUR

PRODUCT FORWARD IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY FANS ARE — WANT TO CONSUME PRODUCT AND THE BETTER JOB AND MORE SUBSTANCE WE CAN TAKE TO OUR GREAT ATHLETES. THOSE ALL GROW FANDOM, AND WHEN YOU GROW FANDOM, ULTIMATELY, THAT DRIVES SUCCESS.

WE’RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A GROUP OF LOYAL AND COMMITTED PARTNERS. WE’RE ALSO INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVEINCREDIBLE FOLLOWING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE PLAY. ALL OF OUR TOURNAMENTS HAVE GROWN TODAY AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.

BUT IN A COMPLEX BUSINESS, IT DOES COME BACK DOWN, AND IT’S TRUE FOR ANY SPORT, YOU’RE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR FAN BASE, AND YOU’RE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR ABILITY TO GROW THAT FAN BASE IN THAT. >> DO YOU THINK THERE’S A

POSSIBILITY TO GENERATE MORE VALUE FROM YOUR NEE MEDIA RIGHT DEAL? >> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT — WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MEDIA RIGHTS DEALS THAT WE’RE IN, FOR NBC, GOLF CHANNEL, ESPN+ AND 43 NATIONAL MEDIA PARTNERS —

AGAIN, I GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING, AS WE GO FORWARD, WE THINK HAVING THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE FROM STRATEGIC SPORTS GROUP WHICH ALLOWS US TO INVEST BACK IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES. NEW DATAS, NEW WAYS TO PREVENT OUR SPORT. ULTIMATELY, AS YOU GO FORWARD,

YES, I THINK WE’LL NUMBER A POSITION TO SIGNIFICANTLY AND MATERIALLY GROW OUR MEDIA RIGHTS. ABSOLUTELY. >> JAY, OVER HERE. DO YOU SEE A PATH BACK TO THE PGA TOUR FOR THE PLAYERS WHO LEFT THE LIV? AND IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU’D WANT TO SEE?

>> YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE’VE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS AND IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PIF. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FRUSTRATING FOR ALL OF YOU. BUT IT REALLY IS NOT IN THE BEST

INTEREST OF THE PGA TOUR AND OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OF — FOR PIF, FOR ME TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WITH SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF OUR DISCUSSIONS. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST STRESS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ENGAGED. WE’RE MAKING PROGRESS. BUT I’M REALLY NOT AT LIBERTY TO

SHARE ANY OF THE DETAILS ON THAT FRONT. >> ONE FOLLOW-UP, OBVIOUSLY TIGER HASN’T PLAYED HERE SINCE 2019. WOULD YOU EMBRACE, OR EVEN CARE TO INITIATE SOME KIND OF SPECIAL CATEGORY, POSSIBLY, FOR MAYBE A PAST CHAMPION UP TO A CERTAIN AGE TO GET A ONETIME EXEMPTION

TO ALLOW HIM TO PLAY HERE ONE MORE TIME, IF HE SO CHOOSES? >> I THINK YOU ALL KNOW TIGER WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT HE WANTS TO EARN HIS WAY INTO ALL — INTO EVERY COMPETITION. THAT’S HIS MAKE-UP. BUT I THINK AS YOU GO FORWARD,

AS YOU EVOLVE, AS AN ORGANIZATION AND YOU THINK ABOUT HOW DO YOU — HOW DO YOU SERVE AND SATISFY A RABID FAN BASE, THOSE DISCUSSIONS MORE BROADLY WOULD LIKELY BE HELD AT THE POLICY BOARD MEETING. I’M SURE WE WOULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

HE’D BE THE HARDEST ONE TO CONVINCE. >> JAY, YOU SAID EARLIER THAT THE TALKS OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND HAS ACCELERATED. DOES THE SSG INVESTMENT MAKE THE TALKS MORE DIFFICULT IN ANY WAY? DID THEY STALL THEM? IS THERE ANYTHING ON THEIR SIDE THAT MAYBE CAUSED PAUSE AND

THAT’S WHY YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE? >> NO, LISTEN, SSG — AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, BOB, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL INVESTORS. AND WE MADE THE DECISION ON DECEMBER 7th AS A WORD UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SSG.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR SSG AND IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE TOUR TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE PIF, PRIOR TO FINALIZING ANY DEAL WHICH IS WHY, YOU KNOW, I JOINED PRINCIPALS FROM SSG ON A TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA TO MEET WITH YASER AND MEMBERS OF PIF AND THAT’S

WHY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS. THERE’S A MUTUAL RESPECT THERE, IT’S HELPFUL TOWARDS ULTIMATELY GETTING A DEAL DONE. I THINK IT’S THAT LEVEL OF DISCUSSION THAT HAS HELPED ACCELERATE THE CONVERSATION. THAT TRIP WAS IN JANUARY. >> JAY, YOU SAID TO ANDREW ROSS

SORKIN IN NOVEMBER THAT IT WAS THE BEST DECISION FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO COMPLETE A DEAL WITH PIF. DO YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT? AND HOW DOES THAT BALANCE AGAINST THE DECISION YOU MADE TO GO AHEAD AND DO A DEAL WITH SSG? >> I DO — I DO BELIEVE THAT

NEGOTIATING A DEAL WITH PIF IS THE BEST OUTCOME. AND OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS TO BE THE RIGHT DEAL FOR BOTH SIDES, LIKE ANY SITUATION, OR NEGOTIATION. THE CONVERSATIONS WITH SSG, FOR THE REASONS I JUST SAID, ALEX, I THINK HAVE ENHANCED THE LIKELIHOOD OF US REACHING A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.

WHEN YOU BRING IN A GROUP OF INVESTORS ON THAT CONSORTIUM, THAT COMBINED HAVE OVER 200 YEARS OF MANAGING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND YOU BRING IN THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, I THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IS ATTRACTIVE TO THE PIF.

AND I THINK THAT WE ALL — WHEN YOU STEP BACK FROM THAT, AND YOU JUST LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE. FOR SOME OF THE REASONS I STATED EARLIER. WITH THE GAME BOOMING, BECOMING COOLER. BECOMING MORE MAINSTREAM, IT’S TRULY GLOBAL, THERE ARE FINITE

NUMBER OF ATHLETES. AND THIS IS THE POINT IN TIME, UNIQUE POINT IN TIME, WHERE UNIFICATION ULTIMATELY PUTS THE SPORT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GROWTH ON A GO-FORWARD BASIS. AND THE PGA IS THEN LIMITED IN OUR ABILITY TO INVESTMENT INTO

SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE NO LONGER ARE WITH THE FORMATION OF PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES. AND I THINK AN ULTIMATE DEAL WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GAME, AND ULTIMATELY, WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST — IF IT CAN BE DONE. THAT’S THE SPIRIT AT WHICH WE

APPROACH THE CONVERSATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS. >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP, I UNDERSTAND IT’S A CLOSED LOOP AMONGST THE PEOPLE THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THIS. BUT WHEN WE TALKED TO YOUR PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE POLICY BOARD, MANY OF THEM FEEL

THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE PLAYERS FROM THE OTHER SIDE COME BACK. THAT’S OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. IF THE PLAYERS ARE FEELING THAT WAY, HOW CAN YOU STILL GET A DEAL DONE? >> WELL, BALANCE IN THE INTEREST OF THE MEMBERSHIP IS 200-PLUS PLAYERS.

YOU KNOW, IT’S COMPLICATED AND IT’S CHALLENGING. AND WE’RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GROUP OF PLAYER DIRECTOR AND STRONG COUNCIL WITH A STRONG SYSTEM IN PLACE. WE’RE ULTIMATELY, AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE MAKE MORE PROGRESS, OUR PLAYER DIRECTORS REPRESENT OUR MEMBERS. THEY’RE DOING AN EXCEEDINGLY

GOOD JOB OF DOING JUST THAT. AND I THINK WHEN YOU’RE IN A NEGOTIATION LIKE THIS, AND YOU’RE IN A TIME LIKE THIS, IT REQUIRES OPEN MINDEDNESS. IT REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY AND A LONG-TERM VIEW AND LONG-TERM VISION. THAT’S WHAT WE CONTINUE TO TRY,

WE PUSH OURSELVES FOR THAT TO BE ON OUR MIND-SET. BUT HOWEVER WE END UP, I THINK THAT WE’RE NOT ABLE TO SATISFY EVERYONE THAT GOES FOR BOTH SIDES. BUT WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET TO THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME AGAIN FOR THE TOUR AND

FOR THE GAME. AND I DO THINK THAT’S ACHIEVABLE. >> OKAY. >> YOU MENTIONED THE MEDIA FOCUS ON THE FANS, THEY CALLED FOR UNIFIED PRO GAMES. DO YOU FEEL THAT’S THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THAT TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH IT’S ANOTHER LEAGUE THAT CREATED THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> I FEEL THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT THE PGA TOUR IN THE STRONGEST POSITION EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND WE HAVE TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD IN OUR PROGRESS WITH SSG. WE CONTINUE TO BE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ESCROW, CLEARLY, I SEE THAT AS AN

OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR TOUR AND STRENGTHEN OUR GAME. SO, YEAH, DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, I TAKE THAT POINT SER RESPONSIBLE SERIOUSLY. AND AS A BOARD, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE’RE COMMITTED TO TRY TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS UNIFICATION. >> JAY, JUST ESSENTIALLY TWO

THINGS, ONE OF WHICH YOU’VE SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT THE TOUR BEING — AND THE GAME BEING AT ITS STRONGEST POINT AT THIS POINT, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT CAN BE THAT WAY? WHEN YOU HAVE SOME TOP PLAYERS, PLAYING AT LIV AND NOT THE PGA TOUR?

JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP, WHAT ARE ONE OF THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT REASONS TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH LIV, IN YOUR OPINION? >> PGA TOUR, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OUR STRENGTH AND WE’RE HERE WITH A WEEK OF PLAYERS, AND WE’VE GOT 144 PLAYERS COMPETING

IN THIS CHAMPIONSHIP. AND THEY’RE THE GREATEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. AND THIS IS THE GREATEST TOUR IN THE WORLD. AND IT’S THE GREATEST TOUR IN THE WORLD BECAUSE IF YOU WERE PLAYING ACROSS THE STREET LAST WEEK AT THE INVITATIONAL. OR YOU’RE TRYING TO CLIMB THE

PGA TOUR RANKINGS OR YOU’RE A JUNIOR GOLFER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU WANT TO PLAY, IT’S THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN OUR GAME. AND THERE’S BEEN DISRUPTION IN OUR SPORT, BUT THAT IS A CONSTANT. WE DO THAT WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT.

AND IT COMES FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS. IT COMES FROM THE STRENGTH IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE FACT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU HAVE MATTHIEU PAVON AND JAKE KNAPP, WE CONSISTENTLY AS A GENERATION REGENERATE TALENT. A STAR CAN BE BORN IN THREE WEEKS. THAT’S WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT’S THE STRENGTH OF OUR PRODUCT AND THAT’S WITH DURABILITY OF OUR PRODUCT, AND WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE DO. THE IMPACT THAT WE WILL HAVE OUT HERE THIS WEEK. THE NUMBER OF FANS WILL BE MORE THAN THE FANS THAT WE HAVE.

FROM A MEDIA STANDPOINT, WE’LL HAVE 350 PARTNERS ACROSS THE STREET AT THE MARRIOTT SAWGRASS, CORPORATE PARTNERS S WORKING WI US TO HELP OUTGROW THE OPERATION. THE BEST TOURNAMENT OPERATORS IN THE WORLD. WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE GOOD THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN SPORT THROUGH OUR TOURNAMENT.

THROUGH IMPACTING LIVE. WE TALK ABOUT DOLLARS, BUT IT’S ABOUT LIVES AND IT’S ABOUT IMPACT. AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE VALUES OF THE GAME, THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME, THE ETHOS OF THE GAME, LOOK, OUR MEMBERS, THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CRAFT

AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION. AND AS WE SIT HERE ODAY, I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD, I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE ASSURED, THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. AND WE’RE GOING TO DO IT, AND REALLY POWERFUL WAYS.

AS IT RELATES TO THE ONE OR TWO THINGS LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK. AND WE’RE FOCUSED ON THIS CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE 144 PLAYERS PLAYING HERE. AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. >> MARK, THEN TO THE FRONT ROW.

>> JAY, IS TEAM GOLF PART OF THAT SHARED VISION? AND HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS TEEN GOLF BEING IN THE ECOSYSTEM IN THE FUTURE? >> LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. T TEEN GOLF BEING ONE OF THEM.

I’M NOT AT LIBERTY TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICS. I JUST DON’T THINK IT’S HELPFUL FOR WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. >> OVER HERE. [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]. >> I’M FOCUSED ON EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE PGA TOUR.

I’M FOCUSED ON THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEK. I’M FOCUSED ON THE GREAT SEASON THAT WE HAVE AHEAD AND WE MADE ADD I THINK TREMENDOUS PROGRESS WITH THE SSG POSITION THAT WE HAVE, PUTTING OURSELVES BACK IN POSITION WITH OUR FANS AND I’M

GOING TO INVEST ON THINGS AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND WE ARE THE BOARD. SO THAT’S WHAT I’M FOCUSED ON. I JUST ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT MY FOCUS IS. >> JAY, BEFORE WE WENT, TWO ON MY SIDE FROM THE ATLANTIC WERE GONE.

WOULD YOU SAY WHAT THEY HAVE MEANT TO YOU? SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. >> SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. >> I SHOULD EDIT MYSELF. >> NO, LISTEN, I THINK KEITH IS A — YOU KNOW, HE’S A PEER, HE’S A PARTNER, HE’S A FRIEND. AND I THINK IT SHOULD COME AS A

SURPRISE TO NOBODY THAT HE’S JOINED THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE’S BEEN WEARING THOSE BLUE GLASSES FOR THE LAST YEARS. BUT I THINK HE’S DONE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DP WORLD TOUR TO DISCOVER THAT LEADERSHIP. I THINK THE ALLIANCE THAT WE

FORMED HAS NOW TRANSFORMED THE DP WORLD TOUR, THE DP WORLD TOUR IS AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY, MATHIEU. AND KEITH DESERVES CREDIT FOR LEAVING THE DP WORLD TOUR, AND GUY CUMMINGS COMING IN, TAKING ON THAT ROLE, AS A TESTAMENT TO HIMSELF. WE’RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH GUY

VERY CLOSELY. MARTIN HAS — MARTIN CAME FROM THE FINANCIAL WORLD. YOU KNOW, CAME IN AFTER PETER DAWSON, A REAL LEGEND IN OUR GAME. AND HE BROUGHT — AND HE CONTINUES TO BRING — AN INTENSE FOCUS ON THE VALUES OF THE GAME. THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME.

AND I THINK HE’S DONE A REMARKABLE JOB WITH THE OPEN AND THE WAY THAT HAS GROWN. AND NOT KNOWING A LOT OF PEOE, HE’S ALSO DONE A SUPER JOB OF REALLY EXTENDING THE R & A BRAND TO MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD AND TRYING TO HELP GROW THE GAME AND

FOCUSED A LOT OF THIS TIME IN THAT AREA. I DON’T THINK THAT GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION, BUT I THINK THAT WILL BE A HUGE PART OF HIS LEGACY. AND I’VE ENJOYED WORKING, I’VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM BOTH. AND THEY’RE BOTH — WHILE I’VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM, WE’VE

ALSO HAD, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS. A LOT OF REALLY PUSHED EACH OTHER. AND I’LL MISS THAT ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. >> IF YOUR DEAL IS NOT CONCLUDED WITH THE PIF WHAT DOES THIS SPORT LOOK LIKE? AND WHAT DOES THE PGA TOUR LOOK LIKE?

>> I GUESS I’LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF THE DEAL ISN’T CONCLUDED. >> CONSIDER THAT. >> WELL, I’M FOCUSED ON MOVING THE TOUR FORWARD, MOVING OUR DISCUSSIONS FORWARD. YOU KNOW, I’M HOPEFUL THAT WE’LL REACH A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. AND SO, I THINK THAT YOU’RE IN ANY NEGOTIATION, BOTH SIDES HAVE

TO WORK TOGETHER TO REACH A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. IF WE CAN’T, YOU KNOW, I’LL CONTINUE MY FOCUS ON ALL OF THE AREAS, I JUST OUTLINE. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO COMPETE AND BE AS STRONG. WITH A GREAT NEW INVESTOR, SSG AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT GROWTH.

>> JAY, DO YOU SHARE THE CONTENTION FOR THE TOP PLAYERS IN THE TOUR, KIND OF ABOVE THE TRADITIONAL PGA TOUR? >> WELL — YOU KNOW, THAT CONCEPT ALONG WITH ANOTHER OF OTHER CONCEPTS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE POLICY BOARD, INCLUDING RORY’S TIME ON THE

POLICY BOARD. PART OF THE DYNAMIC, BEING COMMISSIONER OF THE PGA TOUR, IS BALANCING THE PERSPECTIVE OF NOT ONLY THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP, BUT PERSPECTIVE OF BOARD MEMBERS. AND IT’S INDISPUTABLE THAT THIS IS A BILLABLE SPORT. WE HAVE, OVER THE YEARS, MOVED TO MORE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.

I THINK WHAT WE DID WITH THE GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN AND THE SUCCESS WE’VE HAD THERE. THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES ON A GO FORWARD BASIS, BALANCING THAT IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET AND THINKING ABOUT THAT LONGER TERM IS MANAGE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE IT DO AS A BOARD.

IN FACT, IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING. >> JAY, YOU MENTIONED A QUOTE ABOUT THE TOUR BEING ABLE TO GROW A NEW SUPERSTAR QUICKLY. IN YOUR MIND, IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DOOR AND PROFESSIONAL GOLF THAT

RE-EMPHASIZES THE INDIVIDUAL AND MAYBE PROTECTING AND INSULATES THE TOUR A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU DO LOSE A TOP PLAYER. IN OTHER WORDS, SOMEBODY COULD BE BECAUSE PROFESSIONAL GOLF ISN’T ALIGNED THAT WAY? >> I DO THINK THERE’S SOME TRUTH TO THAT. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE. AND WE’RE IN A SHORT-TERM WORLD. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TOURNAMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES, WITH HISTORY, LEGACY, TRADITION. GREAT LIST OF CHAMPIONS. FAMILIARITY ON A GLOBAL BASIS,

THERE’S A RECOGNITION THAT WINNING OUT HERE IS AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. THAT EMOTION THAT YOU SEE ON SUNDAY AFTER A PLAYER WINS THAT EMOTION YOU THAT SEE FROM FANS, YOU KNOW, AS PLAYERS ARE COMING DOWN THE STRETCH. AND THEY’RE SEEING OUR ATHLETES AND THEIR EXCEPTIONALISM, TO ME,

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PGA TOUR HAS AND ALWAYS WILL, UNIQUELY PROVIDES. AND THAT’S BEEN EARNED THROUGH TIME, 56 YEARS DOING THIS EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND TRYING TO IMPROVE AND ADOPT AND ALL THE OTHER WAYS THAT MAKE THAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE PLAYERS AND

THE FANS AS YOU GO FORWARD. BUT YOU CAN NEVER DISCOUNT, AND IN FACT, IT’S A GREAT STRENGTH, TO HAVE — YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THAT AS AN ESTABLISHED HISTORY AND LEGACY IN EACH ONE OF THESE TOURNAMENTS, INCLUDING THIS GREAT TOURNAMENT THIS WEEK.

50 YEARS SINCE ITS DEBUT, A LOOK AT THIS LIST OF COMHAMPIONSHIPS. THE PLAYER WHO COMES AWAY SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL HAVE THEIR LIVES CHANGED IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES. NO ORGANIZATION DOES THAT LIKE THE PGA TOUR. >> HAS IT BECOME A JOB NOT TO

HAVE PEOPLE REACTION, TO KIND OF MAKE THAT POINT THAT THE LONGER-TERM FIXER COULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE THINK IN A MOMENT. >> THAT’S EXTCERTAINLY, ONE OF THINGS THAT I FOCUS ON, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON. BUT I DON’T HAVE TO — I DON’T

HAVE TO WORK THAT HARD AS IT RELATES TO THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE AND THE PLAYERS THAT ARE PLAYING OUT HERE. THERE’S NO — THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION AND THE DIFFICULTY OF WINNING, AND THE DIFFICULT OF GETTING TO THE FEDEXCUP PLAYOFF, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN

MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING. AND OUR PLAYERS — YOU KNOW — ARE STEPPING UP ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS TO COMPETE OUT HERE AND TO WIN AND ABOUT ABOUT EXCEL. THAT IS THE CENTER OF OUR STRENGTH. >> CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE GOING FORWARD, IS

IT PGA TOUR INC. AT THE TOP AND UNDER THAT SSG AND OTHER THINGS? OR IS IT THIS ABOUT PGA TOUR INC.? >> I THINK THE EASIEST WAY FOR ME TO SUMMARIZE THE STRUCTURE, PGA TOUR INC., TOUR 5016 CONTINUES TO STAY IN PLACE.

THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS ALL OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, ELIGIBILITY, AND MOST IMPORTANT, ALL OF OUR COMPETITION-RELATED BUSINESS. IT’S JUST RIGHT THERE. PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES TAKES ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL ASSETS THAT HAVE EXISTED IN THE PGA TOUR AND

PUTS THEM IN A NEW FOR PROFIT ENTITY. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO IS EXCEEDINGLY CLOSE. IN FACT FROM MY POSITION, I LOOK AT IT AS ONE ORGANIZATION. WITH A NEW CHARTER, AND A NEW OPPORTUNITY, AS IT RELATES TO BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE INVESTMENT CAPITAL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR

PLAYERS AND FANS. >> SHE ALREADY ASKED THAT, FOR ANYBODY THAT IS WITH A TOURNAMENT OR ACROSS THE TOWN IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THE PGA TOUR HAS DONE OVER HISTORY IS CONTRIBUTE TO CHARITY. SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED

ABOUT WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU’RE IN BUSINESS WITH THAT GROUP OR THIS GROUP OR THE OTHER GROUP, WHAT’S IT IS GOING TO DO? >> I INSPECT LAST YEAR, AS IT RELATES TO CHARITABLE GIVING, OUR COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE

WE PLAY, THEY’RE GOING TO DO TWO THINGS. THEY’RE GOING TO PUSH THEMSELVES TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOR CHARITY AND THE COMMUNITY. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO INVEST BACK INTO THOSE SAME ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM DO THAT. BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT

CHARITY WILL ALWAYS BE A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT TO THE PGA TOUR. NOTHING IS CHANGING ON THAT FRONT. IT’S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO OUR TOURNAMENT ORGANIZATION, IT’S IMPORTANT TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS. AND I THINK OUR PLAYERS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM, AS THEY

SEE THE IMPACT OF BEING IN THESE COMMUNITIES WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. >> ANTHONY KIM OBVIOUSLY HAS SIGNED WITH LIV FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEASON. BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, IT HAD INDICATED THAT HE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PGA TOUR SIGNING HALFWAY BACK.

DID YOU PERSONALLY HAVE ANY TALKING WITH ANTHONY ABOUT TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK TO THE TOUR? AND IF SO, WHAT VALUE DID YOU SEE IN ANTHONY BRINGING TO THE TOUR AND GENERATING FAN INTEREST? >> I DID NOT HAVE DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH ANTHONY.

MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM DID. AND THEY VERY CLEARLY LAID OUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR HIM TO LEARN HIS WAY BACK TO THE PGA TOUR. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M GLAD THAT ANTHONY’S HEALTHY, WELL, AND WE WISH HIM WELL. >> WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO SEE

HIM COME BACK TO THE TOUR? >> I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE HIM COMPETE TO MAKE HIS WAY BACK TO THE TOUR BUT THAT’S A DECISION HE DIDN’T — OBVIOUSLY, HE MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION. >> PRESUMABLY, A LOT OF SPONSOR ADVICE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO HIM?

>> HE’S NOT A MEMBER OF THE PGA TOUR, SO I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD. >> JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. NEXT. >> JAY, IS THERE A DANGER WITH NOT DOING A DEAL WITH PIF? AND IF SO, WHAT MIGHT THAT BE? >> LIKE I SAID, IT’S THE SAME

QUESTION ASKED A DIFFERENT WAY. ALL RIGHT. AND MY ANSWER IS THE SAME. SO, I’M ALWAYS AWARE — ALWAYS HAS TO BE OPEN TO NOT DOING SOMETHING WHILE YOU’RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING, IN THIS CASE, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL. SO, IF WE DON’T NEGOTIATE A

DEAL, THEN I THINK ULTIMATELY, WE’RE BACK, YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME POSTURE THAT WE’RE IN. AND WE HAVEN’T UNIFIED OUR GAME AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNIQUE POINT IN TIME. BUT I DON’T — YOU KNOW, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T.

I’M FOCUSED ON TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN. >> IN THE BACK. >> HI, JAY. AT ANY POINT, OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS HAVE ANY OF THE PLAYER DIRECTORS ON THE POLICY BOARD CALLED ON YOU OR ANY OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS ON THAT BOARD TO RESIGN?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD-SPIRITED DEBATE AMONGST OUR BOARD. I DON’T THINK THAT WOULD BE A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY. YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE EVENTS OF LAST SUMMER. BUT WE ARE A UNIFIED — WE’RE A UNIFIED FRONT. OUR POLICY BOARD CONTINUES TO

PERFORM AND FUNCTION AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WITH GREAT SUPPORT OF OUR PLAYER DIRECTORS AND THE FORMATION OF PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES WITH A NEW BOARD. A NEW BOARD SURPRISED WITH FOUR MEMBERS OF THE SSG, SEVEN PLAYERS — OR SIX PLAYER

DIRECTOR AND JOE OGLEBY WHO IS A LIAISON DIRECTOR AND MYSELF AND JOE GORTON WHO IS SERVING ON THAT BOARD. I’M EXCITED TO WORK WITH BOTH BOARDS, FOR ME, HONORED TO SERVE AS COMMISSIONER AND NOW BE A MEMBER OF THE PGA POLICY BOARD.

AND BE A MEMBER OF THE PGA ENTERPRISES AND BE A PART OF THAT BOARD. AND COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EACH OF THOSE BOARDS TO MAKE SURE WE’RE MOVING THE BUSINESS FORWARD. AND ACHIEVING WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.

>> DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE THE FULL BACKING THAT’S CONFIDENCE FOR THE PLAYERS THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT MAN TO MOVE THIS DEAL FORWARD? >> THAT’S THE QUESTION YOU’LL HAVE TO ASK THE PLAYERS. I CAN’T GENERALIZE, AS IT RELATES TO PLAYERS CLEARLY, GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY I’VE

BEEN GIVEN BY BOTH BOARDS, I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR BOARD. AND I AM THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD US FORWARD. I KNOW THAT. I BELIEVE THAT IN MY HEART, AND I’M DETERMINED TO DO EXACTLY THAT. >> ALONG THOSE LINES, JAY, YOU SPOKE ABOUT LAST SUMMER ABOUT

JUST GIVING KIND OF A SHOCK AND AWE TO THE JUNE 6th ANNOUNCEMENT REGAINING AND REBUILDING TRUST FOR THE PLAYERS. HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT IF SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU’RE DOING HAS TO BE IN PRIVATE? >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS A DIFFICULT ELEMENT TO THIS.

A BIG PART — A BIG PART OF THAT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT TIGER AND JORDAN AND PATRICK AND ADAM AND WEBB AND PETER, AND YOU LOOK AT THE 16 MEMBERS OF OUR PLAYER ADVISORY COUNCIL. AND YOU LOOK AT THE WAY OUR TEAM IS COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH

GROUPS AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH WE’RE TALKING AS A BOARD. YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PGA TOUR HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MEMBERS THAT THEY’VE ELECTED TO BE ON OUR BOARD. AND THOSE — THOSE SIX PLAYER DIRECTORS I THINK HAVE DONE AN

EXCEPTIONAL JOB TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY CAN. SHARING WITH THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE’RE GOING, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE’S CERTAIN THINGS LIKE I’M DOING HERE TODAY, THAT WE CAN’T TALK ABOUT PUBLICLY. BUT I THINK THE ROLE THAT THEY

PLAYED, THE ONBOARDING OF SSG AND THE STRENGTH THAT THEY BRING TO THIS ORGANIZATION AND TO OUR SPORT AS CLEARLY RESONATED WITH THE PLAYERS OF THE PGA TOUR. THEY WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE IMPACT AND RESULTS SOON. AND THEY WILL. BUT I THINK — YOU KNOW, BEING

ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY SOLIDIFY, WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THAT BOARD. I’M SURE YOU’RE HEARING IT FROM THE PLAYERS, THEY HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THEIR DIRECTORS, AS DO I. AND THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, IS — IT’S A BIG PART OF ULTIMATELY HAVING

THAT TRUST TO DO THE DEAL WITH DID WITH SSG. AND HOPEFULLY DO ADDITIONAL DEALS IN THE FUTURE THROUGH SSG. >> TOM. >> HEY, JAY. I UNDERSTAND THE SIGNATURE EVENTS ARE ASPIRATIONAL, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN PLAYERS THAT HAVE PROVIDED INTERESTING OPINION SAYING THAT THE FIELD

SHOULD BE LARGER, SOME THINK IT SHOULD BE SMALLER. THERE COULD BE CUTS IN ALL OF THE SIGNATURE EVENTS, NO CUTS. ARE YOU CURRENTLY SATISFIED WITH THE MODEL OF THE SIGNATURE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE ON TOUR? >> I’M NEVER SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING. BUT I WOULD — IT’S EARLY DAYS.

WE’RE TEN DAYS INTO THIS SEASON. AND, AGAIN, GO ING BACK TO THE STRUCTURE OF THIS ORGANIZATION, YOU’RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT PLAYERS WANT TO SEE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE SAME OPINIONS LAST YEAR, AND WE

GOT — YOU KNOW, AND THOSE ARE OPINIONS THAT WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT AS WE DISSOLVED THE SYSTEM THAT WE’RE IN WITH SIGNATURE AND FULL-FIELD EVENTS. YOU KNOW, WE’VE HAD — YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE CRITICISM, AS YOU GET CRITICISM, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE

PLAYERS, I WAS WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT TODAY AND BRIAN HARMAN PULLS UP IN HIS TRUCK AND SAYS HE NEEDS TO SPEAK TO ME. WALK TO THE CLUBHOUSE AND HE SAID, I MEANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU LAST WEEK, HE SAYS, THE SIGNATURE EVENTS ARE AWKWARD

EVERYTHING PUTTING US IN THE POSITION WHERE WE CAN PLAY AT A HIGHEST LEVEL, I FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN I’M AT THESE EVENTS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WHAT I TALKED ABOUT UP FRONT. IF YOU HAVE 49 PLAYERS OUTSIDE

OF THE TOM 50 THAT HAVE COMPETED, THE RETENTION RATE, THE FACT THAT IT PROJECTS, 20 PLAYERS WILL NOT BE IN THE TOP 50 NEXT YEAR. AND YOU CONTINUE TO SEE PLAYERS WHO ARE PLAYING IN THE FULL-FIELD EVENTS COME FORWARD. AND NOW NUMBER A POSITION TO

ACHIEVE AND EXCEPTL AT A VERY HH LEVEL, AS YOU WATCH THIS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I THINK ARE VERY, VERY POSITIVE. PARTICULARLY AS YOU GET INTO THE REALITY OF THE FACT THAT PLAYOFFS ARE 70/50/30. AND THE SCHEDULE, THE SCHEDULE

ITSELF IS 31 WEEKS WITH THREE WEEKS IN THE PLAYOFFS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO BACK IN TIME, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THIS POINT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT FANS HAVE BEEN SAYING TO US. AND WHAT — QUESTIONS THAT I GO BACK, I THINK THROUGH THE

VARIOUS INTERACTIONS I’VE HAD WITH THE MEDIA, YOUR SEASON IS TOO LONG, IT NEVER ENDS. WHY ARE YOU COMPETING IN A FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS UP AGAINST THE START OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL? WHY ARE YOU — WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH A CONFUSING FORMAT AT THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP?

WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING MORE TO DIMENSIONALIZE YOUR PLAYERS AND YOUR STARS? WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING MORE GOLF SHOTS? AND, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW, WITH THE MOVES THAT WE MADE TO PLAY HERE IN MARCH. PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY.

THREE FEDEXCUP PLAYOFF EVENTS THAT’S MADE IT EVEN MORE COMPETITIVE OUT HERE. WE — THE FALL ITSELF, WHERE PLAYERS ARE NOW PLAYING FOR THEIR CARDS AND PLAYING FOR POSITIONING, THAT’S MADE THAT EVEN MORE — THE FALL EVEN MORE COMPETITIVE AND CONSEQUENTIAL. AGAIN, IT’S EARLY DAYS.

BUT IF YOU THEN LOOK AT NETFLIX, AND IT’S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO REALIZE THAT WHEN WE PURSUED THE CONVERSATIONS WITH NETFLIX IN 2019, THE PGA TOUR TOOK THE LEAD, WITH THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, TO CONVINCE US AS AN INDUSTRY TO MOVE FORWARD TO

DO THIS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOWCASE OUR ATHLETES. OBVIOUSLY, THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT ELEMENT TO WHAT WE’RE DOING, COUPLED WITH THE INVESTMENT THAT WE’RE MAKING

IN PRO SHOP, THE FACT WHEN IT WAS REPEALED IN 2018, WE WERE AT THE FOREFRONT MOVING FORWARD THOUGHTFULLY TO INTRODUCE GAMING INTO OUR SPORT. SO THE BUILDING THAT WE’RE BUILDING OUT HERE. AND WHAT FLEXIBILITY THAT PROVIDES TO STORE-TELLING, SHOWCASING OUR STARS.

TO LOOKING AT THE DP WORLD TOUR ALLIANCE. TO NOW HAVING TO TRANSITION OUR BUSINESS TO ONLINE A C-6 BUT A FOR PROFIT ENTITY THAT ALLOWS TO US INVEST BACK INTO A PRODUCT INTO OUR FANS. I’M NOT — IT’S A REAL LONG WAY

OF SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO GROW AND EXPAND OUR FAN BASE. AND WE’VE DONE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT CAPITAL. WE NOW HAVE THAT CAPITAL AND DETERMINATION TO CREATE REAL

VALUE FOR THIS ORGANIZATION AS A FOR PROFIT COMPANY. I THINK THAT’S A POSITIVE THING FOR FANS. AND, SO, GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, ON SIGNATURE EVENTS AND FULL-FIELD EVENTS, I THINK IT’S — YOU KNOW, LET’S CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. BUT, YOU’VE GOT GREAT CHAMPIONS

AS WE SIT HERE TEN WEEKS INTO IT. AND WE’VE ALSO HAD THE REALITY IS WE’VE HAD A LITTLE ANOMALY WITH THREE OF OUR SEVEN EVENTS BEING SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY WEATHER. AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE YEAR TO DATE, YOU HAVE

SIX PLAYERS LAST YEAR AT THIS POINT, HAD ONE THAT WERE IN THE TOP-20 OFFICIAL GOLF WORLD RANKING. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TWO. LAST YEAR, YOU HAD ONE, THIS YEAR, FOUR. THE WINNER LAST YEAR, 16, THIS YEAR, IT’S AT 67. THE POSITIVE TO THAT IS NEW

PLAYERS AND NEW STARS ARE EMERGING. BUT THE REASON I SAY IT’S EARLY DAYS, THERE’S BEEN SOME FACTORS THAT, I THINK, HAVE LIMITE