For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as the FedEx Cup playoffs and Women’s Open get underway.

1. Players meeting: Light attendance, unknowns abound

Rex Hoggard for Golf Channel…”Tuesday’s player meeting at the FedEx St. Jude Championship featured a predictable slate of questions and an equally predictable response from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.”

• “A lot of unknowns,” Tom Hoge said of the meeting that lasted about an hour and half and was lightly attended, even by Tour standards. “It was good just to have Jay there in front of us, see him again and see that he’s doing well. Who knows what the path is going forward. I’ll guess we’ll just wait and see.”

• “The meeting was Monahan’s first with players since he took a leave because of a medical situation in June. According to various sources, the conversation focused on the framework agreement the Tour reached with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the DP World Tour. The agreement allowed the three sides to negotiate a possible definitive agreement that would create a for-profit partnership.”

2. Monahan discusses medical leave

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Monahan, speaking to a small group of reporters ahead of this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, said the pressure of negotiating the PGA Tour’s surprising alliance with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and players’ reaction to it contributed to his anxiety.”

• “The framework agreement was negotiated secretly, and most PGA Tour players and members of the circuit’s policy board weren’t told of the deal until it was announced June 6.”

• “I think the reality for me was that I was dealing with anxiety, which created physical and mental health issues and challenges for me,” Monahan said. “And I realized that I needed to step away and to deal with that and understand how to develop the skills to deal with that going forward.

• “To step away at that point in time was very difficult for me, but I needed to take care of myself and my family, and ultimately come back here stronger than I’ve ever been to lead the PGA Tour forward. And my family and my doctors supported me coming back.”

3. PGA Tour exec Pazder resigns

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Longtime PGA Tour executive Andy Pazder resigned Tuesday, two days before the start of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, according to a memo sent to tour members.”

• “Pazder, who spent more than 30 years with the tour, was its chief tournaments and competitions officer. He was previously executive vice president and chief of operations and senior vice president of tournament administration for the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour. He joined the tour in 1989.”

• “In the memo to players, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, the tour said executive vice president and president Tyler Dennis would assume Pazder’s responsibilities.”

4. AIG boosts Women’s Open purse

James Nursey for Golf Monthly…”Organisers of this week’s AIG Women’s Open have received a major boost after the title sponsor extended its partnership with The R&A to 2030.”

• “The total prize fund for the AIG Women’s Open has increased significantly since AIG became title sponsor in 2019. At this year’s championship, which will be played from Thursday to Sunday at Walton Heath, the prize fund is US$9 million – a 23% increase on 2022.”

• “Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We have found an ally of women’s golf which has formed the basis of our strong partnership and I am delighted to see that continue. We have a clear vision for the AIG Women’s Open; we want to see the best women golfers compete on the best golf courses in front of large crowds and show us how good they are.”

5. “I see a lot of greed” – Hal Sutton on today’s tour

Mike Hall of Golf Monthly…”Hal Sutton has questioned the direction of the PGA Tour, suggesting it is becoming too money oriented.”

• “The 14-time PGA Tour winner expressed his concerns on The Golf Channel’s Golf Today show, where he told Damon Hack and Eamon Lynch: “I see a lot of greed to be honest with you. You know, I wore out two hips and a left knee walking to the model of charity is the biggest winner every week, and I pray that the PGA Tour does not lose that.“

• …”However, the 2004 Team USA Ryder Cup captain insisted he had motivations for playing the game beyond financial rewards. He continued: “I was proud to be part of that. I was proud that we weren’t trying to get every dollar we could possibly get, but it feels that way now.”

• “I could never imagine saying that I don’t love golf, I only play because I’m good at it. I could never imagine saying that.”

6. Phil can’t help himself

Our Matt Vincenzi…”This week, Jon Rahm said that his hope for the PGA Tour is for them to have a porta potty on every hole.”

• “I can tell you right now, my priorities are a lot lower than what a lot of people would think. I know this is going to sound very stupid, but as simple as having a freakin’ porta potty on every hole. I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t choose when I have to go to the bathroom. I’ve told the tour this many times.”

• In typical Phil Mickelson fashion, the six-time major champion responded to a tweet from “NUCLR GOLF” that shared Rahm’s quote.

• “It’ll never happen.

• UNLESS,

• LIV starts doing it. Then it’ll happen immediately ??”

7. LPGA TV ratings spike

Todd Kelly for Golfweek…”The LPGA is enjoying record television ratings, with July being the most-watched in the tour’s history, according to a report by Sports Business Journal.”

• “The 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, held for the first time at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links, certainly provided golf fans a reason to tune in. And they stuck around. Despite a leaderboard devoid of most of the tour’s big names, the third and final rounds on NBC each surpassed 1 million viewers. Sunday’s action peaked at 1.59 million, the best number of the season. The prime-time NBC window also helped the cause.”

8. Royal Lytham to make major return

Ben Parsons for Bunkered…”The R&A has announced that the AIG Women’s Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2026.

• “The famous Lancashire links will host the women’s major for the sixth time, eight years after Englishwoman Georgia Hall lifted the title back in 2018.”

• “Royal Lytham has not held The Open since 2012 and was snubbed in favour of Royal Birkdale for the men’s championship in 2026.”

9. FedEx St. Jude photos

Check out all of our galleries here!