Ponte Vedra Shuffle: "Structural moves to strengthen our core business...and to prepare for further collaboration with the European Tour"

They love to lay off the little people and add more VP’s down in Ponte Vedra, so beyond the normal comings and goings the below memo includes references to the recently news-dumped alliance with the European Tour.

The headline below for serious golf fans must begin with a huge congratulations to Slugger White and Mark Russell, both officially retiring after 40 years of service to the PGA Tour and hearing more slow play gripes than two men ever should.

Salud on a great run and many more happy days on the links!

Here is the missive “sent on behalf of Commissioner Monahan” to players that also found its way into my inbox:

I am pleased to announce a few structural moves designed to strengthen our core business -- Player Relations and Competitions -- and to prepare for further collaboration with the European Tour as we advance the optimal global golf structure to the benefit of players and fans around the world.

Optimal global golf structure. Nothing like jargon to raise red flags.

Tyler Dennis is promoted to EVP & President, PGA TOUR, a member of the Commissioner’s Committee, reporting to Andy Pazder, and will, in addition to his current responsibilities, focus on relationships with our global player membership base as well as relationships with title sponsors given his broad Competitions, Player and Tournament experience and perspective.

I believe the Commissioner’s Committee guarantees jet seat access on PGA Tour Airship 1, but I’ll get back to you on that. As opposed to the Executive Leadership Team…

Dan Glod is moving to an elevated role as SVP – Player Relations, a member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to Ross Berlin and working closely with me, Andy and Tyler. Dan’s roles of increasing responsibility at the TOUR, including leading the Korn Ferry Tour, working with THE PLAYERS Championship, and multiple roles in Corporate Partnerships including most recently leading our business development efforts, will allow us to further reinforce the importance of Player Relations to our core business and all of the outstanding work that Ross Berlin and his team have done. As part of this, Dan will be focusing on the partnership we have with our players and how we can help them grow their business while at the same time augmenting the PGA TOUR’s business around the world.

I’m detecting a theme here. Player Relations is very important. You’d think they were sponsoring or paying to cover the tournaments with this level of catering to a small group, 50% of whom will not be Tour members in five years thanks to technology-induced parity. But I digress…

As part of this focus and evolution of Player Relations, Phil Marburger and Mack Horton are also taking on additional new areas of focus for us and are being promoted to Vice President. Phil and Mack will continue to report to Ross, working closely with Tyler and Dan.

In the Competitions area, Andy Levinson is promoted in his role to the Executive Leadership Team. We are all grateful for Andy’s exemplary leadership in the area of our Health & Safety Plan, which underpins our safe and ongoing Return to Golf during these challenging times. Andy will continue to take on additional responsibilities under Tyler. Likewise, Kirsten Burgess is promoted to Vice President, and we are grateful for her outstanding leadership in the Competitions Administration area and her team’s role in ensuring our return to competition after the cancellation of 11 PGA TOUR events and a completely re-worked schedule culminating in a full FedExCup season finish.

Full meaning full purse payout, and don’t you forget that!

As many of you will have seen in Tyler’s note yesterday, we have a number of changes in the Rules and Competitions Area. After 40 years on the job, Mark Russell and Slugger White will soon be retiring and we will have an opportunity in the coming months to celebrate their remarkable careers. Longtime Rules Officials Dillard Pruitt and John Lillvis will also be retiring.

Gary Young will continue to lead this department, and Steve Rintoul, John Mutch, Stephen Cox and Ken Tackett are all promoted to the role of Senior Tournament Director on the PGA TOUR.

Congrats to all.

Brian Oliver is working with Talent & Culture on plans to replace Dan’s responsibilities in Business Development.

Talent & Culture. [Eye roll emoji goes here.]

Additionally, given Austin Flagg’s strong prior experience with key sponsors and partners, and the critical experience he has gained in every area of our business working closely with me during this pivotal year, I have asked him to transition back to the Sponsorship/Partnership area to take on a role with increased responsibilities under Brian. With John Wolf’s experience in Player Relations and Tournament Business Affairs, he will transition to the Office of the Commissioner, working closely with me, Ron and Allison to coordinate high level priorities and scheduling.

Please join me in congratulating everyone on their new roles.

And as we work to advance the optimal global golf structure to the benefit of players and fans around the world.