About the Commissioner

JAY MONAHAN

The PGA TOUR Policy Board appointed Jay Monahan as commissioner on November 7, 2016. He officially became the fourth PGA TOUR Commissioner on January 1, 2017, succeeding Tim Finchem, who held the position for more than 22 years.

In his time as commissioner, Monahan has led the TOUR through the most transformative and innovative time in the organization’s history. In 2024, the TOUR launched Fan Forward, a fan-centric research and strategy initiative that is further accelerating innovation on behalf of golf fans to enhance their experience while strengthening the TOUR platform.

During his tenure, player compensation has reached record-setting levels, and the PGA TOUR fan base has grown in both size and diversity. Additionally, the TOUR and its tournaments raise upwards of $200 million each year for more than 3,000 charities, with a cumulative charitable impact that exceeded $4 billion in 2024.

Monahan ushered the PGA TOUR through the COVID-19 pandemic, as the TOUR was among the first professional sports leagues to safely return to competition in June 2020. That same year, Monahan and the TOUR reached a landmark, nine-year media rights agreement with both broadcast and streaming partners through 2030 and formalized a strategic alliance with the European (DP World) Tour Group.

In 2022, Monahan further strengthened the alliance with the DP World Tour with a 13-year agreement through 2035 to co-sanction events, drive prize funds and commercial revenue, develop playing opportunities for members of both Tours, increase the PGA TOURs existing stake in European Tour Productions and create formal pathways for top players around the world.

Under Monahan’s leadership, the TOUR incorporated and launched PGA TOUR Enterprises in 2024, a subsidiary of PGA TOUR, Inc., to allow for growth capital not previously available because of the parent company’s 501(c)(6) structure. On January 30, 2024, the TOUR welcomed an initial investor in Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a consortium that includes individuals with more than 200 years of combined sports team stewardship across major global sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and EPL. Fenway Sports Group has led the SSG investment of up to $3 billion including an initial $1.5 billion up front with support from the leadership of Cohen Private Ventures, including Steven A. Cohen and Andrew B. Cohen, and Arthur M. Blank, owner and chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment. In conjunction with the incorporation of PGA TOUR Enterprises, the TOUR implemented a Player Equity Program – the first of its kind in professional sports – awarding PGA TOUR members an ownership stake in PGA TOUR Enterprises.

Monahan’s tenure has included several significant schedule and competitive changes to grow and strengthen the TOUR for its fans, players and partners. In 2019, these included a reduction of Playoffs events from four to three and the TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship, returning to a March date. In 2024, changes included the return to a calendar-year schedule and the introduction of Full-Field and limited-field Signature Events. For 2026, there will be a number of additional competitive changes related to eligibility and field sizes to ensure equitable playing opportunities for members who have earned a PGA TOUR card and to enhance the fan experience.

In January 2025, the TOUR opened PGA TOUR Studios, a state-of-the-art production studio first conceptualized in 2017. Located on the PGA TOUR Campus in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., PGA TOUR Studios redefines how the TOUR creates and delivers content to golf fans across the globe. The 165,000-square-foot facility is a pivotal next step of golf content production in an everchanging media landscape and one that will fuel exponential growth in the TOUR.

Monahan joined the PGA TOUR in 2008 as Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship. He then served as Senior Vice President for Business Development, where he was responsible for securing new sponsors and managing existing PGA TOUR title sponsorship relationships. Monahan was named PGA TOUR Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in March 2013, overseeing business development, corporate marketing and partnerships, title sponsor relations, retail licensing and media sales.

Monahan was appointed PGA TOUR Deputy Commissioner in April 2014, with Chief Operating Officer added to his title in April 2016.

As PGA TOUR Commissioner, Monahan serves on the Board of the PGA European (DP World) Tour, as well as on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the International Golf Federation. He is also Chair of both the World Golf Foundation and PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation Board of Governors. Monahan is the co-founder and board member of Golf Fights Cancer, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer-related charities and research organizations.

Before joining the PGA TOUR, Monahan was executive vice president of Fenway Sports Group, leading the sales and business development team for the property ownership and representation divisions since 2005. Additionally, he directed FSG’s sponsorship sales operations for the Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing and Boston College Athletics. Prior to joining FSG, Monahan spent three years as executive director at IMG Worldwide, where he played an integral role in the development of the PGA TOUR’s Boston-area tournament and served as its first tournament director. Monahan began his sports sponsorship career as director of global sponsorships and branding programs at EMC Corporation. Previously, he worked at Arnold Advertising and Bob Woolf Associates.

Monahan graduated from Trinity College in 1993, where he was a four-year member of the golf team and a Division II Academic All-American his senior year. He earned a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1995.