Jay Monahan cites anxiety over PGA Tour-PIF deal for medical leave - ESPN

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday that he took a monthlong leave of absence from his position because of anxiety that resulted in mental and physical health concerns which required medical care.

Monahan, speaking to a small group of reporters ahead of this week's FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, said the pressure of negotiating the PGA Tour's surprising alliance with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and players' reaction to it contributed to his anxiety.

The framework agreement was negotiated secretly, and most PGA Tour players and members of the circuit's policy board weren't told of the deal until it was announced June 6.

«I think the reality for me was that I was dealing with anxiety, which created physical and mental health issues and challenges for me,» Monahan said. «And I realized that I needed to step away and to deal with that and understand how to develop the skills to deal with that going forward.

»To step away at that point in time was very difficult for me, but I needed to take care of myself and my family, and ultimately come back here stronger than I've ever been to lead the PGA Tour forward. And my family and my doctors supported me coming back."

The PGA Tour announced on June 14 that Monahan was taking a leave of absence from the tour for undisclosed medical reasons. He turned over day-to-day operation of the tour to president Tyler Dennis and chief operating officer Ron Price.

Monahan returned to work on July 17.

Monahan's leave came just one week after he and Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced the deal on CNBC. Some PGA Tour players criticized Monahan for keeping them in the dark while the deal was being