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The PGA Tour hasn’t stopped at Ponte Vedra yet, but big news keeps coming out of the headquarters. Ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, the tour announced a surprise addition to the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises board: Joe Ogilvie. And Alan Shipnuck, who has been in a verbal spat with Phil Mickelson for a few years now, sees the next commissioner in the 49-year-old.
The Tour also announced Tiger Woods as the new vice chairman. A position that will help the 15-time Major Champion ‘consolidate his power’, for a bigger role in the future, Shipnuck believes. Whether Shipnuck feels that Monahan will be out of the job soon is not clear. But once he does, Ogilvie is his best bet for replacing the 53-year-old.
Shipnuck puts his money on Joe Ogilvie
Ogilvie was elected as a Liaison Director by the existing PGA Tour Policy Board members. In his capacity, the former Tour Pro will serve as a bridge between the two organizations, the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Enterprises. Shipnuck, however, finds Ogilvie’s inclusion rather “intriguing.” “PGA Tour Enterprises has named its new board. Most intriguing name: @ogilviej! [Joe Ogilvie] The next Commish, for my money. Tiger Woods consolidates his power as vice chair,” the veteran sports journalist tweeted.
https://x.com/AlanShipnuck/status/1765530631122133330?s=20
Ogilvie was a PGA Tour player from 1999–2014, having his fair share of experience serving on the Tour Policy Board at that time. In fact, the one-time PGA Toru winner was known as ‘The Lil Commish’ for his easy access to the corridors of power. The former PGA Tour pro also expressed his desire to become a commissioner one day.
Moreover, Ogilvie wrote an open letter last October addressing the Tour players. “The players must continue to hold governance control of the new for-profit entity and the original not-for-profit entity. Any new seats assumed by an investor must maintain the player’s relative control position on the board,” Ogilvie wrote as part of his three-page letter. The PGA Tour Enterprises board will consist of six player directors, four SSG members, and Joe Ogilvie, Jay Monahan, and Joe Gorder.
https://x.com/FOS/status/1765511250471944451?s=20
So far, Jay Monahan has managed to keep his job, something that Paul Azinger was surprised about. In fact, the 53-year-old will be the CEO of the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises as well. Notably, Shipnuck himself opined that Monahan’s sabbatical last June paved the path for a “graceful exit”. Many still believe that the 53-year-old will leave after an agreement is reached between the Tour and PIF, the Saudi sovereign fund that finances LIV Golf.
Problems ahead of Jay Monahan & the next Tour commissioner
Monahan perhaps undid the merger mismanagement by roping in Strategic Sports Group. SSG, a consortium of sports-team owners across the NFL, NHL, and EPL, led by the Fenway Sports Group, will invest $3 billion as a minority stakeholder. Furthermore, roughly 200 tour pros will have a stake in the for-profit entity.
That equity has also become a thorny issue as the top 36 players will receive $750 million based on the last five years’ performance, PIP results, and career performance. Whereas, the next 64 players will get $75 million based on their past 3-year performances. The breakup with a heavy weight for the top 36 players hasn’t been received well across the board.
On the other hand, the Tour has faced consistent backlash over its broadcasting and coverage issues. Fans have lambasted commercials for taking precedence over golf. Even, Collin Morikawa admitted the problem recently. Also, the inclusion of LIV golfers within the tour, and most importantly, whether they get the equity benefit or not, has been a bone of contention among players.
Per the memo, players who helped establish the Tour will also receive equity in the product. While that ostensibly refers to the greats of the bygone era, many have wondered whether Greg Norman, who dominated the Tour and floated the idea of a global Tour in the 90s should also deserve his share. If Joe Ogilvie or Tiger Woods indeed become the commissioner any time soon, there are multiple issues they need to take care of.
