By Steve Keating

TORONTO, Reuters – Jay Monahan (PGA Tour Commissioner) visited golfers at the Canadian Open and blasted anyone who has jumped to the Saudi-backed endeavor as free-riders.

The weekend saw the Canadian Open, LIV inaugural and Centurion Club events at Centurion Club in London play at each other. This was the first ever head-to-head matchup between the PGA Tour (and the controversial breakaway big-money series) that aims to change the status quo of golf.

Monahan dismissed the 54-hole layout as “an exciting new era in golf.” He also questioned why a company that spends billions of dollars but is unlikely to be profitable is doing so.

Critics argue that LIV was a blatant attempt to sway public opinion in favor of human rights. It was funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to the tune $225 million.

Monahan said, “You must ask yourself why?” during a TV interview. Monahan was speaking to the media at St. George’s Golf and Country Club’s final round. Why is this company spending billions on recruiting talent and trying to create a business model that has no return?

“Those players chose to sign lucrative multi-year contracts to take part in an endless series of exhibition matches against each other.

“You see this differently to what you see today.

We won’t allow our best players, who are loyal players, to ride free off of us.

Rory McIlroy’s defense of the Canadian Open title was a triumphant end to a turbulent week marked by threats and verbal sparring.

There is so much tension, that Greg Norman (a Northern Irishman who supports the PGA Tour) took one more shot at Greg Norman (an ex-golf legend and CEO of LIV), even as he celebrated his 21st PGA Tour win.

McIlroy said, “This is a great day that I’ll remember forever, 21st PGA Tour winner, one more than Norman), which gave me a bit of an incentive today,” to a greenside reporter.

Monahan on Thursday suspended any future and current players who decided to sign up for the breakaway series. This included Dustin Johnson (six-time major winner), Sergio Garcia (six-time major winner), Bryson DeChambeau (seven times major winner), and Phil Mickelson.

Monahan suggested that those who sign up for the Saudi-backed venture may have one to support the survivors and families of 9/11. According to Monahan’s report, a letter was sent to golfers representatives by the New York Post expressing outrage at their involvement in the new league.

Saudi Arabia provided 15 hijackers in the terrorist attacks of September 11th that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. An American government panel found no evidence that Saudi Arabia had funded al Qaeda directly.

Monahan stated, “I would like to ask all players that have left or those who would be interested in leaving if you’ve ever had any apologies for being a part of the PGA Tour.”