PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Four steps. That’s the approximate distance – depending on the length of your stride, of course – between Jay Monahan’s old office and his new one inside the West building at PGA TOUR headquarters.
For most people, it’s actually 34 steps door-to-door. But thanks to an unadorned side door opposite the main entrance to the Commissioner’s office, Monahan was able to shave 30 steps. The short distance proved most convenient in the last 2-1/2 years when he served as Deputy Commissioner to Tim Finchem.
Having such close proximity to the office of the TOUR’s most powerful decision maker made a positive impact in Monahan’s apprenticeship. It allowed him to be involved in the TOUR’s most intimate dealings, to gain an insider’s knowledge, to meet and befriend golf’s biggest movers and shakers.
It also allowed the TOUR to make a seamless transition at the top of its org chart. When the 69-year-old Finchem officially announced his retirement on Nov. 7, there was no question about his replacement, as the Policy Board unanimously approved the change. “Absolutely the right guy,” was how Finchem describes his successor.
Monahan officially starts his new job as Commissioner this week. That means no more four-step trips to the side door. But in being handed the keys to a bigger office, Monahan also assumes the responsibilities, the pressure and the scrutiny that come with it.
In other words, there are no more shadows in his world. The PGA TOUR is a team effort, but he’s the person at the top now. Important decisions await.
He’s ready.
“The great thing about moving into the role is that we've spent the last 2-1/2 years in a transitional process, and I've had the opportunity to work very closely with Tim, with our board and with our senior team,” Monahan says in an interview with PGATOUR.COM just before the holiday break.
“I feel like when we all come back for the start of 2017, we've got a plan in place. Everyone is very clear as to what we need to do, and everybody is ready to go. Maybe in a different office, but it's all about the team, and we have a great team, and we're excited to go about our business in 2017.”
It’s no surprise that he enters the new year with plenty of enthusiasm. That’s his nature. At age 46 – one year younger than when Finchem became commissioner 22 years ago – Monahan brings a youthful exuberance and energy to a sport that is looking to grow its appeal, especially to a millennial audience whose attention span is being pulled in so many directions.
It’s the can-do spirit. Monahan operates in an air of positivity. Said Finchem: “He doesn’t have a negative moment in his day. I mean, he is a total glass-is-half-full individual. I think you’ll see that as we go forward.”
On this day in December, he certainly was energetic – and with good reason. The 2016 season was a highly successful one for golf and for the TOUR. The sport returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence, playing to great reviews. Rory McIlroy, one of the young superstars whom the TOUR will build its future on, won the FedExCup. From Dustin Johnson’s U.S. Open win to the Duel in the Sun II between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson to Jim Furyk’s record-setting 58 to the Ryder Cup showdown between McIlroy and Patrick Reed, golf’s professionals showed it could deliver consistent drama.
On the international stage, the rise of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and the addition of a third TOUR event in Asia, as well as opening an office in Tokyo, will build upon the TOUR’s presence in that growth area that was established with the creation of PGA TOUR China. The TOUR also will have a World Golf Championships event in Mexico for the first time next year, again building upon its foundation of PGA TOUR Latinoamerica.
And of course, Tiger Woods is poised to return to TOUR competition in 2017. After a 14-month hiatus while recovering from back surgery, Woods played at his own Hero World Challenge in December. He led the field with 24 birdies, a promising sign.
“I just think that there's great energy that we bring into 2017,” Monahan says.
Still, there are also issues to be addressed. In a wide-ranging interview, the new Commissioner was asked about some of the key discussion points going into his first year.