Yesterday was a momentous day for golf as the PGA Tour announced sweeping changes to their schedule with hugely increased prize funds and extra benefits for players, while Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced TGL – a technology and stadium-based golf league to be run in collaboration with the PGA Tour from January 2024.
What was announced?
Jay Monahan of the PGA Tour
(Image credit: Getty Images)
For the 2023 season, the PGA Tour will increase the number of elevated events on the circuit by four (as yet un-named tournaments) to 12. These elevated events will carry a minimum purse of $20 million with The Players Championship carrying a purse of $25 million. The “top” players are committed to playing in these 12 events, plus a total of at least 20 PGA Tour events through the season. “Top players” are defined as those who finish in the top-20 in the Player Impact Program.
The pot for the Player Impact Program (PIP) will be doubled to $100 million to be divided between the 20 players (up from 10) who resonate most with fans and media. The metrics for determining the PIP rankings will be altered to represent fan awareness more effectively.
The launch of the Earnings Assurance Program means all Korn Ferry graduates, and those above in the Tour’s priority ranking who complete 15 Tour events, will earn no less than $500,000 per year. Those ranked lower will receive $5,000 in expenses when they miss a cut.
In addition, changes to qualification criteria for the Sentry Tournament of Champions mean all those who qualify for the previous season’s Tour Championship will be eligible.
Also yesterday, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced the launch of TGL – a tech focused, stadium-based golf league to be run in conjunction with the PGA Tour. It will kick off in January 2024 and will feature team matches held in a purpose-built venue. It will run on a Monday evening in a two-hour slot. The league will feature six, three-man teams competing on “a data-rich, virtual course” in a stadium setting with fans right alongside the action.
Why has this happened?
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