The DP World Tour announced Thursday its schedule for the 2023 season, featuring a minimum of 39 tournaments in 26 countries and an overall prize fund of $144.2 million.
DP World Tour members will compete for an increased bonus pool of $6 million for the leading eight players on the DP World Tour Rankings. As part of the record total prize fund, the 2023 season will also see the introduction of a new Earnings Assurance Program for DP World Tour members. Exempt players in categories 1-17 will be guaranteed minimum earnings of $150,000 if they compete in 15 or more events. Rookies, Challenge Tour graduates and Qualifying School graduates can take up to $20,000 right away to fund long-haul early season travel. This is an advance against earnings.
Both the record prize fund, increased bonus pool and Earnings Assurance Program have been made possible by the DP World Tour’s operational joint venture partnership with the PGA Tour, which was announced in June.
“For us to be able to offer our members record prize funds and enhanced earning opportunities is massive, particularly when global economies are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and with the new challenge of rising inflation significantly putting pressure on costs in all facets of our business,” said Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s chief executive. “Our overall prize fund for the 2023 season represents $50 million more than 2021 and also underlines the strength of our partnership with the PGA Tour, who are working with us to drive revenue and a long-term growth plan.
“One of the many benefits we have been able to introduce because of this partnership is the new Earnings Assurance Program, similar to what they already have on the PGA Tour. I have always believed that it is an incredible accomplishment for any professional golfer to simply gain their playing rights on the DP World Tour and this new initiative recognizes and rewards that achievement. Although we will never lose the magic of the meritocracy and purity of a performance-based structure, this now offers certainty of income to those players who have made it to the pinnacle of the professional game in Europe.”
The first four Rolex Series events of 2023 have received a boost in purse with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship all moving from $8 million in 2022 to $9 million next year, ahead of the $10 million season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
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