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PGA Tour releases memo sent to players regarding U.S. unrest

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The PGA Tour released the internal memo Friday that it sent to players addressing the social unrest gripping the United States after the police killing of George Floyd.

"This past weekend, I - like many of you, I’m sure - spent a lot of time trying to understand and process the civil unrest that has engulfed many cities across the United States, following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wrote.

The message was first sent to staff members Monday and was reportedly sent to golfers Tuesday, according to Golf Channel's Damon Hack.

"The hardships and injustices that have and continue to impact the African-American community are painful to watch and difficult to comprehend," Monahan continued. "And as a citizen of this country and a leader of this organization, I must admit that I’m struggling with what my role should be. But I’m not giving up.”

Monahan said that conversations with black friends and colleagues taught him that "sometimes listening and making a commitment to understand are the only things you can offer, and that’s OK."

He added, "We might not know exactly what to do right now, but we shouldn’t be deterred. We should communicate and learn. We should talk to our family, friends, and colleagues in an open and compassionate way. We should grow as individuals and as an organization. And, most importantly, we should demand better."

Tiger Woods and Harold Varner III, two of the few African-Americans on the PGA Tour, released statements Monday on the killing of Floyd and subsequent protests. Tiger called for a "unified society," while Varner urged looters to stop after labeling the killing of Floyd as "evil."

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