⛳️ Jay Monahan's Memo

Plus: Cantlay talks, early lines for Sentry TOC, and more.

Author

The Shanks Gator
January 01, 2024

Good afternoon! Welcome to Shanks and Happy New Year. We hope you hit all of your golf goals this year, whatever they may be.

Golf Trivia: Who was the CEO of the PGAT before Jay Monahan took over in 2017?

Here's what we've got for ya today:

  • Send Me A Memo

  • Cantlay Talks

  • Early Lines: Sentry TOC

  • Shots Heard Round The World

  • Thing We’d Buy If We Weren’t Broke

Send Me A Memo

In Saturday’s email, we talked about how the PIF & PGA negotiations had been pushed back to 2024, from their initial date of December 31, 2023.

Nothing too interesting there, but here is the memo Jay Monahan sent out to players yesterday.

I wanted to provide an update on our negotiations with Strategic Sports Group (SSG), the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and DP World Tour.

As you know, the Board unanimously directed management to pursue exclusive negotiations with SSG. I am pleased to report that we have made meaningful progress and have provided SSG with the due diligence information they requested. As we move forward in our discussions, we are focused on the finalization of terms and drafts of necessary documents.

We also continue our active and productive conversations with PIF and the DP World Tour. While we had initially set a deadline of December 31, 2023, to reach an agreement, we are working to extend our negotiations into next year based on the progress we have made to date.

Our goal for 2024 is to reach agreements with SSG, PIF, and the DP World Tour, bringing them on board as minority co-investors in PGA Tour Enterprises. These partnerships will allow us to unify, innovate, and invest in the game for the benefit of our players, fans, and sponsors.

As we look forward to the new year, I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing holiday season surrounded by your family and friends.

Sincerely, Jay

Classic corporate memo here, which means a lot of words without really saying anything, but there is some reading in between the lines to be done here.

First, it looks like it’s all but a done deal that SSG will be striking a multiple billion dollar agreement with the PGAT. That means, combined with the $10 billion dollars worth of deals Jay Monahan got done in 2020, the Tours financial future is more secure than it has been in a long time.

It also looks like PIF will have a part to play, if they are willing to be a “minority co-investor” with limited control.

As to whether PIF will accept that, it depends what their motivations are, which no one really knows for sure. They are fairly tightlipped in that regard.

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Here’s to better scores next season!

Cantlay Speaks Up

“Until this season he was known to casual golf fans as a soft-spoken, mild-mannered, mysterious megatalent — someone who’d prefer his clubs do the talking for him. But that all changed in 2023.

Suddenly, everyone in the golf world had an opinion on him. This was the year he became a leader on the PGA Tour. The year he contended at the Masters.

The year he was accused of “seizing control” of negotiations for pro golf’s future. The year he became the center of golf’s slow-play conversation, and the center of LIV’s rumor mill, and the center of a high-profile Ryder Cup comeback (and dust-up!).”

So, what does Patrick have to say about all of it?

Early Lines: Sentry TOC

Welcome to a new year of golf betting, people! A fresh start.

The season kicks off next week in Maui, for the Sentry TOC, and as you can see there will be a bunch of top players in the field.

Last year, Collin Morikawa coughed up his lead to Jon Rahm, who is now suspended and won’t be defending his title.

Oh, and we have offers for you! If you haven’t yet downloaded BetMGM or Sleeper, and they are available in your state, here’s what they are offering:

BetMGM Offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets if you don't win. Yes, you can use this and get the bonus bets on the college playoffs today, if you want.

Sleeper Offer: Up to $500 in Bonus Bets. Also available for any sport.

Shots Heard Round The World

Golf Digest: The Hot List 2023

Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

How many pairs of golf shoes is too many pairs? We don’t know, but we are adding these Nikes to our collection anyway.

“The Peg ’89 G melds the vintage vibes of yesteryear with our game-breaking golf technology for an everlasting look on the links. Wet rubber traction gives you great multidirectional bite on sketchy terrain. And, the ride is pure Peg: smooth, steady with a speck of speed when trying to squeeze in those last few holes at sunset.”

Trivia Answer: Tim Fenchem held the post for 22 years.

That’s all folks! See you Wednesday with some Sentry Bets.