Jordan Spieth: PGA Tour Players Have Trust Issues with Jay Monahan After LIV Merger

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan still isn't particularly popular in the clubhouse, according to Jordan Spieth.

The three-time major champion said Monahan has work to do in order to regain the trust of players after negotiating a merger with LIV Golf behind the backs of essentially the entire Tour.

"Quite a bit, just based on conversations I've had with players. And I think he realizes that," Spieth told reporters. "I'm sure he's preparing for a plan to try and build it back."

Monahan, long a public critic of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, did a public about-face in announcing a merger with the fledgling league that also positioned him as arguably the most powerful figure in golf. The embattled commissioner will be the CEO of the newly formed golf superpower, which is currently facing regulatory pushback from the U.S. government.

Several PGA Tour golfers, many of whom spurned lucrative LIV offers at the behest of Monahan, have ripped into the commissioner since the deal was announced last month. Geoff Ogilvy told the Golf Channel that Monahan was called a "hypocrite" by golfers during a behind-closed-doors meeting, after which Monahan released a statement acknowledging the frustration.

"I recognize everything that I've said in the past and my prior positions. I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite," Monahan said. "Anytime I said anything, I said it with the information that I had at that moment, and I said it based on someone that's trying to compete for the PGA Tour and our players. I accept those criticisms, but circumstances do change. I think that in looking at the big picture and looking at it this way, that's what got us to this point."

Monahan briefly stepped away from his post as commissioner last month to handle an undisclosed health issue. He is set to return to the job next week, but not all players are thrilled about him being back.

"I'd say he has a lot of tough questions to answer in his return," Xander Schauffele said. "And yeah, I don't trust people easily. He had my trust and he has a lot less of it now. So I don't stand alone when I say that."

Monahan has been the PGA Tour commissioner since 2017.