Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Woodard

Rank-and-file players hire lawyer to demand information from PGA Tour on outside investors

A handful of former and current PGA Tour players are so fed up with leadership they’ve hired a law firm to try and get some answers.

Susman Godfrey, the firm representing 21 players, recently sent a letter to the PGA Tour Policy Board demanding “full disclosure of the details and analyses of any proposals by prospective capital partners, which should be shared promptly with all Tour players.”

The players, who are all rank-and-file members at best, also demand a meeting with the independent directors on the Policy Board to discuss the process of selecting outside investors and what conflicts of interest may be present.

“The PGA Tour players who have been kept in the dark about this process are the lifeblood of the Tour,” the letter claims. “They deserve to know what is happening.”

No Laying Up’s Tron Carter shared the letter, dated Dec. 10, on social media Tuesday morning. The demands came the same night the Tour announced it had “unanimously selected an outside investment group to further negotiate with” and that talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would continue, as well.

The firm sent the following statement to Golfweek: “The PGA Players we represent want transparency from the PGA Tour Policy Board before it makes any decisions impacting the permanent structure, economics, or competitive rules of the PGA Tour. Only with additional information can the PGA Players ensure that the right decisions are made for the right reasons and that no players are left behind.  Our clients know their sentiments and goals are shared widely by most PGA Players.”

Tiger Woods, one of the player directors, was adamant a few weeks back that the dealings in the dark with potential investors had to end. Player directors, who are voted on by the membership, have been sending updates since the shocking June 6 framework agreement with the PIF was announced. So why is this group of players so special that they deserve a meeting and privileged information?

Lynch: Jon Rahm’s greed isn’t the PGA Tour’s biggest problem, it’s the guys who want Saudi-sized money for staying

After the way the framework agreement was handled and announced, players have voiced their displeasure with and lack of trust in the Tour’s leadership. But let’s look at their careers by the numbers.

Player Current OWGR ranking Best OWGR ranking Best FedEx Cup finish Cuts made Wins on Tour
Ryan Brehm 547 220 (2017) 128 (2022) 53/118 1
Wesley Bryan 704 36 (2017) 41 (2017) 59/113 1
MJ Daffue 249 141 (2023) 118 (2023) 29/49 0
Dylan Frittelli 409 44 (2018) 58 (2020) 78/152 1
Tommy Gainey 729 84 (2011) 62 (2011) 96/236 1
Brent Grant 440 320 (2022) 166 (2023) 12/37x 0
Lanto Griffin 307 49 (2021) 18 (2020) 79/126 1
James Hahn 316 52 (2016) 39 (2016) 150/262 2
Scott Harrington 664 185 (2020) 98 (2020) 36/87 0
Andrew Landry 740 37 (2018) 66 (2018) 76/160 2
Nate Lashley 186 70 (2020) 57 (2019) 79/141 1
Brandon Matthews 764 220 (2022) 192 (2023) 7/33x 0
William McGirt 553 24 (2016) 38 (2016) 166/277 1
Grayson Murray 134 85 (2017) 66 (2017) 58/128 1
Scott Piercy 305 25 (2016) 22 (2015) 249/396 4
Chez Reavie 111 8 (2019) 26 (2019) 244/397 3
Chris Stroud 638 74 (2014) 43 (2013) 208/402 1
Callum Tarren 153 141 (2023) 91 (2023) 27/62 0
D.J. Trahan 1,285 62 (2008) 24 (2008) 188/368 2
Richy Werenski 501 101 (2021) 39 (2020) 101/197 1
Danny Willett 182 9 (2017) 85 (2019, 2023) 79/135 1

Of the 21 players, just five are within the top 200 of the OWGR: Chez Reavie (111), Grayson Murray (134), Callum Tarren (153), Danny Willett (182) and Nate Lashley (186).

Ten players are ranked outside the top 500 in the world: Richy Werenski (501), Ryan Brehm (547), William McGirt (553), Chris Stroud (638), Scott Harrington (664), Wesley Bryan (704), Tommy Gainey (729), Andrew Landry (740), Brandon Matthews (764), D.J. Trahan (1,285). Seven of the 21 have never cracked the top 100.

Last season was the first on Tour for MJ Daffue, Brent Grant and Matthews, and each had seasons that left something to be desired. Stroud bad-mouthed the Tour last week before he flopped in the first round at the LIV Golf Promotions event.

The letter was mocked on social media by fans and golf media alike, and within seven hours of the letter going public, Bryan said he’s removed his name from the list of players.

We don’t know what the PGA Tour will look like in the near future, but we do know the Tour these players once knew will no longer exist. Instead of biting that hand that’s fed them for years, maybe it’s time for the journeyman to either venture on or plot a new course in the evolving game.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.