PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan open to welcoming Phil Mickelson back to the fold

Commissioner Jay Monahan would welcome a conversation with Phil Mickelson about returning to the PGA Tour, despite the six-time major winner's strident criticism of the organisation. Mickelson lost numerous sponsors and is taking a break from golf after accusing the PGA Tour of acting like a "dictatorship" and admitting he was using the threat of a breakaway Saudi-backed league as "leverage" to reshape how the Tour operates. The 51-year-old apologised for his "reckless" comments but still insisted the way the sport is run needs to change and praised the "visionaries" he had worked with on the rival league, which is being spearheaded by Greg Norman. Monahan pointedly began his traditional press conference ahead of this week's Players Championship by stating that the PGA Tour would no longer be "distracted" by talk of rival leagues and remained focused on "legacy, not leverage". He said: "I have not talked to Phil since he made his comments and since he said that he was stepping away. "I think the ball is in his court. I would welcome a phone call from him. But it's hard for me to talk about the different scenarios that could play out. "Listen, he's a player that's won 45 times on the PGA Tour. He's had a Hall of Fame career. He's won here at The Players Championship. He's inspired a lot of people and helped grow this Tour, his Tour. "So as difficult as it is to read some of the things that were said, ultimately a conversation will be had when he's ready to have it, and I will be ready to have it as well." Monahan was not asked directly if Mickelson had in fact been suspended by the PGA Tour, but did concede that "every player is accountable for their actions out here".

He added: "He stepped away on his own accord and he's