Rank-and-file players hire lawyer to demand information from PGA Tour on outside investors
12/12/2023 19:12
A handful of former and current PGA Tour players are so fed up with leadership they’ve hired a law firm to try and get some answers.
Susman Godfrey, the firm representing 21 players, recently sent a letter to the PGA Tour Policy Board demanding “full disclosure of the details and analyses of any proposals by prospective capital partners, which should be shared promptly with all Tour players.”
The players, who are all rank-and-file members at best, also demand a meeting with the independent directors on the Policy Board to discuss the process of selecting outside investors and what conflicts of interest may be present.
“The PGA Tour players who have been kept in the dark about this process are the lifeblood of the Tour,” the letter claims. “They deserve to know what is happening.”
No Laying Up’s Tron Carter shared the letter, dated Dec. 10, on social media Tuesday morning. The demands came the same night the Tour announced it had “unanimously selected an outside investment group to further negotiate with” and that talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would continue, as well.
The firm sent the following statement to Golfweek: “The PGA Players we represent want transparency from the PGA Tour Policy Board before it makes any decisions impacting the permanent structure, economics, or competitive rules of the PGA Tour. Only with additional information can the PGA Players ensure that the right decisions are made for the right reasons and that no players are left behind. Our clients know their sentiments and goals are shared widely by most PGA Players.”
Tiger Woods, one of the player directors, was adamant a few weeks back that the dealings in the dark with potential investors had to end. Player directors, who are voted on by the membership, have been sending updates since the shocking June 6 framework agreement with the PIF was announced. So why is this group of players so special that they deserve a meeting and privileged information?
After the way the framework agreement was handled and announced, players have voiced their displeasure with and lack of trust in the Tour’s leadership. But let’s look at their careers by the numbers.
| Player | Current OWGR ranking | Best OWGR ranking | Best FedEx Cup finish | Cuts made | Wins on Tour |
| Ryan Brehm | 547 | 220 (2017) | 128 (2022) | 53/118 | 1 |
| Wesley Bryan | 704 | 36 (2017) | 41 (2017) | 59/113 | 1 |
| MJ Daffue | 249 | 141 (2023) | 118 (2023) | 29/49 | 0 |
| Dylan Frittelli | 409 | 44 (2018) | 58 (2020) | 78/152 | 1 |
| Tommy Gainey | 729 | 84 (2011) | 62 (2011) | 96/236 | 1 |
| Brent Grant | 440 | 320 (2022) | 166 (2023) | 12/37x | 0 |
| Lanto Griffin | 307 | 49 (2021) | 18 (2020) | 79/126 | 1 |
| James Hahn | 316 | 52 (2016) | 39 (2016) | 150/262 | 2 |
| Scott Harrington | 664 | 185 (2020) | 98 (2020) | 36/87 | 0 |
| Andrew Landry | 740 | 37 (2018) | 66 (2018) | 76/160 | 2 |
| Nate Lashley | 186 | 70 (2020) | 57 (2019) | 79/141 | 1 |
| Brandon Matthews | 764 | 220 (2022) | 192 (2023) | 7/33x | 0 |
| William McGirt | 553 | 24 (2016) | 38 (2016) | 166/277 | 1 |
| Grayson Murray | 134 | 85 (2017) | 66 (2017) | 58/128 | 1 |
| Scott Piercy | 305 | 25 (2016) | 22 (2015) | 249/396 | 4 |
| Chez Reavie | 111 | 8 (2019) | 26 (2019) | 244/397 | 3 |
| Chris Stroud | 638 | 74 (2014) | 43 (2013) | 208/402 | 1 |
| Callum Tarren | 153 | 141 (2023) | 91 (2023) | 27/62 | 0 |
| D.J. Trahan | 1,285 | 62 (2008) | 24 (2008) | 188/368 | 2 |
| Richy Werenski | 501 | 101 (2021) | 39 (2020) | 101/197 | 1 |
| Danny Willett | 182 | 9 (2017) | 85 (2019, 2023) | 79/135 | 1 |
Of the 21 players, just five are within the top 200 of the OWGR: Chez Reavie (111), Grayson Murray (134), Callum Tarren (153), Danny Willett (182) and Nate Lashley (186).
Ten players are ranked outside the top 500 in the world: Richy Werenski (501), Ryan Brehm (547), William McGirt (553), Chris Stroud (638), Scott Harrington (664), Wesley Bryan (704), Tommy Gainey (729), Andrew Landry (740), Brandon Matthews (764), D.J. Trahan (1,285). Seven of the 21 have never cracked the top 100.
Last season was the first on Tour for MJ Daffue, Brent Grant and Matthews, and each had seasons that left something to be desired. Stroud bad-mouthed the Tour last week before he flopped in the first round at the LIV Golf Promotions event.
The letter was mocked on social media by fans and golf media alike, and within seven hours of the letter going public, Bryan said he’s removed his name from the list of players.
Name pulled
This was a mistake and I appreciate you and your guidance
being totally serious, just sent email removing myself from this
My apologies
— Wesley Bryan (@wesleybryangolf) December 12, 2023
We don’t know what the PGA Tour will look like in the near future, but we do know the Tour these players once knew will no longer exist. Instead of biting that hand that’s fed them for years, maybe it’s time for the journeyman to either venture on or plot a new course in the evolving game.
