The game’s best players prepare to face off more often than ever before in new-look league.
Feature image: Getty Images
Given how ferociously competitive they are in a game that is the ultimate lone-wolf singular challenge, it might be difficult to believe that an increasing number of PGA Tour members are embracing unity as a path forward. Yet they are – and prominent voices such as Rory McIlroy are leading the way.
“The one thing that has happened over the years is we all sort of are our own little independent businesses and we try to compete against each other,” McIlroy said.
He is not the only marquee name who arrived at a conclusion that there might be a more prudent way.
“I think this is the first time in a long time where we all sat down and were
like, ‘Let’s try to be business partners. How can we all pull in the same direction here to benefit everyone and to help the entire tour and to help each other?’” he added.
When McIlroy noticed he was among brethren thinking similarly – players such as Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick – the Northern Irishman felt he was a member of the PGA Tour’s Policy Board at the perfect time.
“I think I’ve evolved into that role,” he said. “I care deeply about our sport. I care about its history. I care about its legacy.”
When it was confirmed that none other than Tiger Woods was adamant in his support – even while he remains sidelined from traumatic leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car accident – McIlroy was more convinced than ever that this was a mission to get behind.
“Tiger Woods was the single biggest draw that the PGA Tour had,” said McIlroy, who joined Woods and 22 other marquee names at a players-only meeting in August to make sure everyone was on the same page.
“What is the best thing for our tour going forward? What can we do to help put forward the best product possible so that in 50 years’ time the PGA Tour is still thriving, and we can safeguard the future of the tour?”
Sharing ideas, bouncing philosophies, and creating dialogue among themselves, McIlroy said he and his fellow competitors have always kept PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in the loop. “It’s not as if we did this as a renegade group,” McIlroy said.
Spieth, who was very much a part of the process, confirmed that.
“Players coming together to continue to want to make the PGA Tour better in the ways that we’re trying to figure out,” said Spieth, who intently listened in late August at the Tour Championship when Monahan – taking stock of players’ suggestions – outlined changes starting in 2023 that will give the PGA Tour a bold, new look.
Yes, fingerprints of the game’s best players are all over them, which to many is the most appealing part to these changes:
▶ There will be an “elevated status” designation for 17 tournaments, including the Players Championship, the four Major championships (Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship). The others will be the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC–Dell Technologies Match Play, the Memorial Tournament, the FedEx St Jude Championship, the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship. Three tournaments not yet named will round out the group of 17.
Players have made a commitment to these 17 tournaments, plus three other tournaments at their choosing, so it’s an unprecedented show of support that Monahan praised.
“Our top players are firmly behind the tour,” said Monahan, who confirmed that purses would average at least $US20 million for these elevated tournaments.
▶ Back for a second year, the “Player Impact Program”, which uses metrics and data to measure how players resonate with fans, will be increased to $US100 million that will be awarded to the top 20 players. (Last year, the program was $US40 million for 10 players.)
▶ What will go away is the “wrap-around season”. In 2024 the season will run from January to August.
▶ What will return is the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. (It had been an annual staple up until 2012 before being re-imagined as a Korn Ferry Tour Q-School.) Held at the end of 2023, the new-look Q-School will reward the top five finishers and ties with PGA Tour cards for 2024. Also, the top 30 finishers on the Korn Ferry Tour and the top 10 on the DP World Tour will be awarded PGA Tour cards.
▶ What will be introduced is the Earnings Assurance Program, which will guarantee all fully exempt players $US500,000 annually. The money will be paid up front to returning members and rookies, and players will draw against it during the year. Immeasurable will be the help afforded rookies incurring heavy travel costs at a point in their career when they are just getting started.
▶ There will be a slimmer, sleeker look to the FedEx Cup playoffs at the end of this season. Only the top 70 players will qualify, rather than 125. Those who finish 71st to 125th in FedEx Cup points will be able to enhance their standing in a series of tournaments held in the northern autumn, after the season has concluded.
Player Support
Crunch all the changes and commissioner Monahan is emphatic.
“Our fans will be all but guaranteed to see the best players competing against each other in 20 events, or more, throughout the season,” he said.
Reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick didn’t have a problem with making a commitment up front for 20 tournaments. “Sometimes you’ve got to give a little,” said the Englishman. “Yeah, some weeks I might not enjoy those mandatory events, but I’m more than happy to do it.
“I think it’s definitely steps in the right direction. The tour will be stronger and (continue to get even more so) the following year and the following year.”
Spieth, echoing a sentiment that other top players expressed, strongly suggested it would be more than 20 tournaments for him.
“I’m going to play more than 20 because I love to play golf,” he said. “I’m 29 and I’m healthy, so I will be playing other events as well.”
Call it music to Monahan’s ears. Which is only fitting because his ears were wide open to players’ thoughts, suggestions and critiques.
“It’s the culmination of a strengthened partnership between the tour and the players and among the players themselves,” Monahan said. “It’s unprecedented for our tour and a testament to who these guys are and what they believe in.”
