PONTE VEDRA BEACH — The Players Championship has the best golf course, but the player who dominated commissioner Jay Monahan’s press conference on Tuesday is the one who isn’t there.

That player is Phil Mickelson, the six-time Major champion and former TPC Sawgrass winner who should be a canonical figure in these games. Instead, at least momentarily, he’s persona non grata after a series of heated comments – which included calling out the tour’s “abhorrent greed” in a Golf Digest interview and a report by the Fire Pit Collective that Mickelson hired lawyers to draft the operating agreement for a Saudi-backed independent circuit.

Following the fallout from the Fire Pit Collective story, Mickelson released a statement that he would be taking a sabbatical from gaming. However, given the nature of his comments and alleged conduct, there is speculation that the Mickelson’s leave is not entirely his choice.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Monahan repeatedly stressed the Tour’s long-standing policy of not commenting on player suspensions, whether they have occurred or may occur in the future. Conversely, Monahan was firm in saying Mickelson will eventually have to answer for what he said and did.

“He retired of his own free will and he asked for time,” Monahan said. “We gave him that time. We do not comment on disciplinary issues, potential issues or actual issues. But each player is responsible for his actions here.

Monahan said he hasn’t spoken to Mickelson since his comments — the comments Mickelson claimed were meant to be private — became public. He also believes that the responsibility for initiating this conversation lies with Mickelson.

“The ball is in his court,” Monahan said. “He said he was walking away and wanted some time to think things over. It’s something that I and we will respect and honor.

“When he’s ready to return to the PGA Tour, we’ll have that conversation. It’s a conversation I look forward to.”

Monahan was later asked whether or not Mickelson felt ready to return, could he just show up to a tournament – alluding to the idea that Mickelson could be suspended and therefore couldn’t just choose an event to return to . Monahan replied, “Like I said, I think the ball is in his court. I would welcome a phone call from him. But it is difficult for me to talk about the different scenarios that could play out.

“Look, he’s a player who’s won 45 times on the PGA Tour. He’s had a Hall of Fame career. He’s won here at the Players Championship,” Monahan continued. “He’s inspired a lot of people and helped develop this tour, his tour. As difficult as it may be to read some of the things that were said, ultimately a conversation will happen when he’s ready to have it, and I’ll be ready to have it as well.

Earlier in the morning, when asked where he thought the tour could improve, Rory McIlroy said he wanted the organization to be more transparent about player punishment.

“I always thought some of the bans or suspensions, I think all of that should be announced,” McIlroy said. “I think it should be more transparent. I always said that.

Another recurring topic for Monahan during his press conference was the Super Golf League project. Monahan reiterated his belief that the tour sees the Saudi threat as a thing of the past and the tour is moving forward.

“We have too much momentum and too much to accomplish to be constantly distracted by rumors of other golf leagues and their attempts to disrupt our players, partners and most importantly our fans from enjoying the tour and the game. that we all love so much. “Monahan said.

Monahan pointed to the litany of players professing loyalty to the Tour as proof that the Tour and its members are united on this front. As for LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman claiming that Monahan was bullying players into staying with the Tour, Monahan brushed off the issue.

“I think people know me and know how I play, how we operate and the values ​​we stand for, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that that’s not how I operate. I don’t haven’t had a lot of people ask me about it because people know me. I’m here.

“I just think we keep moving forward and we keep growing this tour in partnership with our players, listening to our players and responding in the right way that benefits them, that’s the ultimate litmus test,” Monahan continued. . . “I feel as a leader of this organization, I feel really good about not just where we are at, but some of the opportunities we have to move forward, and be very real, get that feedback, be transparent and allow the players to really feel that sense of possession.”