PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan left red-faced as World No 125 brands him 'chicken' in rant

Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, has once again come under fire from another player on the tour. The criticism comes in light of Monahan's decision to align with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), a move that has been questioned by many over the past year.

Monahan's introduction of 70-man 'Signature Events' with increased prize money has also drawn criticism, particularly from those lower down the rankings. This week sees the seventh of eight Signature Events taking place at Muirfield Village, where a select group of the tour's biggest names are competing for a prize fund of £15.7 million ($20m) at the Memorial Tournament.

World No. 125 Nate Lashley is among those who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the exclusion of many Tour members from these elevated events.

Speaking to Golfweek, Lashley said: "Our No. 1 event is the Players and it's a 144-man field."

He added: "If that's the best field all year, then why are these signature events, that are supposed to be so good, 70. It makes no sense. Look at how good the Players was this year. When you have more competition, things stay tighter, more compact. When you've got fields with no cuts it spreads things out."

"But we have a commissioner who is a chicken... and won't stand up to a handful of guys, that's what happens. You can't tell me finishing top 10 in a limited field is similar to a 144 or 156-man field. It's not even close. There's no comparison. This is way harder."

Unsurprisingly, Lashley is not the only Tour member who has been left frustrated.

The decision to bring in the Signature Event appeared to have been done to thwart off the threat of LIV Golf, who were able to lure in a number of marque players from the PGA Tour. And whilst fellow pro Mark Hubbard understands the Tour's plans to keep hold of their best, he feels the sport's leading circuit are leaving the rest behind.

"I know we are trying to keep the top guys here and we had to do something but to shrink the game the way they have," Hubbard said. "It's tough because there are 70 guys on the Korn Ferry Tour that could come out and win tomorrow and I think we have just lost sight of that."

"There are just so many people playing really good golf right now and the world has no idea who they are because the Tour has chosen to make it that way. I'm not talking about fringe players, I'm talking about guys that are super good."

Following this week's Memorial, the Tour will host one more Signature Event, taking place at the Travelers later this month.