On Wednesday, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan discussed the progress of the Tour’s Saudi deal in his first remarks since taking a medical leave of absence. Monahan, who has been on medical leave since late February, said that the Tour was “very pleased” with the progress of the deal and that it was “on track” to be completed soon.
The PGA Tour announced in January that it had signed a 10-year deal with the Saudi government to host a tournament in the country. The event, which will be called the Saudi International, is set to take place in January 2020 and will be the first PGA Tour event held in the Middle East.
Monahan said that the Tour was “very pleased with the progress of the deal and the enthusiasm from the Saudi government.” He added that the Tour was working closely with the Saudi government to ensure that the event is a success.
Monahan also said that the Tour was committed to making sure that the event is conducted in a manner that is consistent with its values. He said that the Tour was working to ensure that the event is conducted in a way that is respectful of human rights and that it is open and welcoming to all players, regardless of their gender or religion.
Monahan’s remarks come at a time when there is increased scrutiny of the Saudi government’s human rights record. The country has been criticized for its treatment of women and its involvement in the war in Yemen.
The PGA Tour has said that it will monitor the situation in Saudi Arabia closely and will take any necessary steps to ensure that the event is conducted in a manner consistent with its values. Monahan said that he was confident that the event would be a success and that it would be a positive step for golf in the Middle East.
