Jay Monahan’s letter to PGA Tour members highlights the changes the tour is adopting going ahead
The PGA Tour sent out a memo to its players outlining changes to tournament purses and the schedule that will go into effect from next season in the tour’s latest attempt to keep players from moving to the lucrative Saudi-backed LIV GOLF tour.
In a three-page letter sent to players on Aug. 24th, Commissioner Jay Monahan revealed sweeping changes.
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20 “elevated” events with US$20 million purses
The most significant of the changes is the tour’s new schedule where the highest ranked players have committed to playing together more often – about 20 times a year including the majors. This includes 12 elevated events with average purses of $20 million to keep pace with LIV.
The elevated events with US$20 million purses, include the FedEx St Jude Championship, BMW Championship, Tour Championship/FedEx Cup, ( the 3 season ending tournaments that form the Fedex Playoffs) The Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles which is hosted by Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Jack Nicklaus hosted The Memorial Tournament, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship which is the only surviving event of the 4 World Golf Championships initiated by the PGA Tour which were positioned alongside the majors for many years and the season opening Sentry Tournament of Champions.
2. The Player Impact Program has ballooned from $50 million to $100 million in bonuses to be given out to the 20 most popular players on tour. Increased from 10 players in 2022. In addition, players who rank in the top 20 on the PIP list could get entry into the elevated events regardless of their on-course performance.
3. The tour has also modified its rule for lifetime membership. Previously golfers were required to have won 20 times and played for 15 years on tour, The new rule does away with the 15-year requirement. In reality this only applies to Rory Mcilroy – the only active player with over 15 wins.
Overview of changes announced to future scheduling and compensation
Top players will commit to at least a 20-event PGA TOUR schedule (assuming they qualify), which includes: pic.twitter.com/Qb5HXMwOFL
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 24, 2022
4. Minimum Guarantees: All fully exempt players who compete in 15 tournaments will be guaranteed a minimum of $500,000 through the creation of the Earnings Assurance Program. This money will be paid up front and will be adjusted against future earnings during the year. For those who do not earn $500,000 over the course of the year, the PGA Tour will pay the difference.
In addition, every player will receive $5,000 for missing cuts at PGA Tour events. .
According to Golf Digest, the tour expects the program to cost only between $2 million and $3 million a year as most exempt players will exceed the $500,000 threshold.
These changes have been put in place to try to stop more players from leaving, but apparently not to lure back players who have already left. When asked whether he’d consider dropping suspensions for Tour players who joined LIV but were enticed into returning by the changes, Monahan said: ‘No, they’ve joined the LIV Golf Series and they’ve made that commitment. I’ve been clear throughout, every player has a choice and I respect that choice. I think they understand that.’
Credits:-
Photo – PGA Tour