By George McNeilly
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan is no stranger to the John Deere Classic having played in the pro am on numerous occasions, as well as personally managing a more than quarter century relationship with Deere & Company.
“This tournament is so remarkable, $14.1 million dollars raised for charity last year, $175 million since inception, 98% of it under John Deere’s tenure.” Monahan proudly shared with a handful of reporters on the eve of opening round here at TPC Deere Run.
Wearing a John Deere Classic golf shirt, Monahan said he made the trip to the Quad Cities, not to tee it up this time, rather to visit with CEO John May and his team to help celebrate the company’s 25-year title sponsorship.
“You know, when we leave here Sunday night, somewhere around $14 plus million is going to stay in this community,” added Monahan. “We’ll all be proud of our champion, but we’re also very proud of our impact. Again, we can’t do that without John Deere, the hero this week and for 25 years running.”
Monahan said this place is kind of like the soul of the PGA TOUR, given the way fans in this community turn out annually for the John Deere Classic.
A week ago, the TOUR appointed Andy Weitz, former Aon Chief Marketing Officer, in its newly created role of Chief Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations Officer. That’s quite a title and the commissioner agreed with my premise that it’s a sign of how more complicated the business landscape has gotten these days.
“It’s a sign of the way the business has evolved,” Monahan responded. “We’ve created a for profit company in PGA TOUR Enterprises with a new investor in Strategic Sports Group, and (the non-profit) PGA TOUR, Inc. is still in place. It’s going to require that level of expertise, and to have someone that comes from a global 50 company to come in and help us manage this new company the way we interface with our investors, the way that we’re communicating progress in the business going forward, to have that quality of talent come into the organization at this time I think is really exciting.”
I asked the commissioner if Weitz’s role is limited to the new venture or the entire operation.
“Andy will be involved in the entire operation, and I think that’s a good question and the right way to look at it, Monahan responded. It’s not like someone who is working at the PGA TOUR is going to be asking what hat do I have on right now.”
Monahan said the objective is for everyone to move the business forward.
“There’s just a different structure in place around enterprises and marrying those two, making sure all of our activities are coordinated, the way that we are communicating is coordinated is going to be part of his function,” said Monahan.
