MEMPHIS, Tenn. — PGA Excursion commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned Wednesday that he took a monthlong reduce of absence from his place on account of nervousness that ended in psychological and bodily condition issues which required hospital treatment.

Monahan, chatting with a tiny workforce of newshounds forward of this generation’s FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, mentioned the force of negotiating the PGA Excursion’s unexpected alliance with the DP Global Excursion and Saudi Arabia’s Folk Funding Charity and gamers’ response to it contributed to his nervousness.

The framework promise was once negotiated secretly, and maximum PGA Excursion gamers and participants of the circuit’s coverage board weren’t advised of the trade in till it was once introduced 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 mentioned. “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 time in presen was once very tough for me, however I had to take charge of myself and my people, and in the end come again right here more potent than I’ve ever been to supremacy the PGA Excursion ahead. And my people and my docs supported me coming again.”

The PGA Tour announced on June 14 that Monahan was taking a leave of absence from the tour for undisclosed medical reasons. He turned over day-to-day operation of the tour to president Tyler Dennis and chief operating officer Ron Price.

Monahan returned to work on July 17.

Monahan’s leave came just one week after he and Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced the deal on CNBC. Some PGA Tour players criticized Monahan for keeping them in the dark while the deal was being made, and human rights groups condemned the PGA Tour for doing business with the Saudi Arabian monarchy, given its history of human rights abuses.

“I believe we all know my nature and my nature is to all the time be one to run right into a combat or a battle, now not run clear of it,” Monahan said. “As a result of I had world-class hospital treatment, I totally dedicated to the method. I used to be now not going to come back again till I used to be advised by means of docs and scientific professionals and my spouse and my ladies that I used to be totally supported in coming again. And that was once now not one thing that was once a simple task after I stepped away.”

Monahan met with about 25 PGA Tour players at TPC Southwind on Tuesday, his first such meeting since his return. His message to them: “I’m wholesome, I’m energized, I’m in a position, and I’m prominent the PGA Excursion in the future.”

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler said Wednesday that he attended the meeting.

“It’s certainly excellent to have him again,” Scheffler said. “I believe the excursion has were given an extended solution to journey. But it surely’s all the time great having Jay again in individual. Guys after they wish to could have face-to-face presen with him, he’s all the time to be had. He’s doing the most efficient that he can to build positive that he’s getting as a lot participant enter as conceivable.”

Monahan told players that his biggest regret was not informing them about the planned alliance with the DP World Tour and PIF before it was announced publicly. Monahan said he wishes he would have flown to Toronto for the RBC Canadian Open to inform players before the news was made public.

“It was once useless,” Monahan said. “And because of this, there was once a accumulation of incorrect information. I believe anytime you’ve gotten incorrect information that may supremacy to distrust, and that’s my duty. It’s no one else’s duty — that’s me and me unwanted. As I’ve mentioned, I whisk complete responsibility for that. On the identical presen, I say sorry for placing gamers on their again substructure, however in the end the exit that we made is the best exit for the PGA Excursion. I firmly consider that. And as we journey ahead, presen will endure that out.”

Monahan said the sides continue to hammer out the details of a final agreement, which he hopes will be finished by the end of the year. He said the PGA Tour continues to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice, which has opened an inquiry into the potential deal.

“Our workforce is in ordinary touch with the Segment of Justice, has been and remains to be,” he said. “We’re assured once we come off the again finish of this, we’ll do it the best way the place we’ve created extra alternatives for gamers in the future.”

Monahan said he also offered to testify before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in late July, but the subcommittee couldn’t accommodate the timing. Price and PGA Tour policy board independent director Jimmy Dunne testified in front of the subcommittee on July 11. Monahan said if he was asked again, “I’ll briefly reply and I’ll testify.”

While Monahan believes he has earned the trust of PGA Tour members during his six-plus years as commissioner, he acknowledges the past few months have been a “setback.”

“I’ve said it was once an useless rollout, and that’s on me,” Monahan said. “My efficiency has all the time been and can proceed to be steady in response to effects and the productiveness of the group and effects delivered and performed in the best means. And in order that might be motivated once we whole this procedure. And I’m assured that once we whole this procedure, as I mentioned ahead of, this might be a rewarding outcome for the PGA Excursion gamers and our lovers.”