Jay

Monahan

With this merger, a new entity will be formed, and the name to be determined. PIF will be the initial investor in this new entity and will have the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested in the new entity, including into the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and DP World Tour. The PGA TOUR will appoint a majority of the Board and hold a majority voting interest in the combined entity. PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan had this to say, “After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love. This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans.” There are still a lot of details to be worked out or revealed but this is promising news for the cohesion of professional golf.

Monahan announced some big changes that will go into effect rather quickly, starting at the upcoming 2022-23 campaign which kicks off in less than a month. The first one benefits the lower tier of the TOUR members. That would be the earnings assurance program which sets the floor salary of fully exempt members to $500,000 with the rookies getting that money upfront. Players with conditional status will also receive a $5,000 travel stipend if they miss the cut, to help cover travel and lodging. That’s not all though, as 12 events will be given elevated status with an average purse of $20 million. Rex Hoggard of Golf Channel broke down even more of the changes announced today which include improvements to the PIP program and new 20-event requirements, linked below.

“We will continue to collaborate on a global schedule and key commercial areas as we draw our organizations and memberships even closer together while innovating to provide the most entertaining and compelling golf possible to fans around the world,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Notable points of the agreement includes: The PGA Tour will increase its existing stake in European Tour productions from 15 percent to 40 percent; the DPWT guarantees growth in annual prize funds to its members for the next five years; The Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia will now enjoy a formal pathway to DPWT; and starting in 2023, the top 10 players at the end-of-season DPWT rankings will earn PGA Tour cards in addition to those players who are already exempt.

Tour commissioner Jay Monahan held a players meeting Tuesday morning at the Travelers Championship to outline several ideas, “many of which had been put forth earlier,” according to a report by SI.com, “but with some specifics including increased purses for the elevated events such as the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament, as well as the PGA Tour’s flagship event, the Players Championship.” Additionally, reports indicate that several limited-field events will be added to the regular season and could feature $20-$25 million purses. Monahan is scheduled for hold a press conference Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET at this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

The PGA TOUR has taken a hard stance against the new golf Saudi Golf League and now they are following up on those threats. “players are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA TOUR tournament play, including the Presidents Cup.” That includes all of the sub-leagues sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, most notably the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Champions. Players who resigned their PGA TOUR memberships will also be prohibited from playing any PGA TOUR event as a non-member via sponsor’s exemption (or any other exemption category). This is only the start of what is sure to be a back-and-forth battle between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf.

“We are and we always will be focused on legacy, not leverage,” said Monahan, seemingly addressing the Saudi-backed super golf league and Phil Mickelson, the 2007 TPC champ, who said in a statement last week he was taking a break from golf amid backlash following publication of controversial comments he made regarding the league. “I wake up every day assuming someone is trying to take my lunch,” added Monahan regarding the “threat” of a competing tour. While Monahan would not address if there has been any disciplinary action for Mickelson, he did reveal the two have not spoken but that he’s “looking forward” to it: “The ball is in his court. [Mickelson] has said that he’s stepping away and he wants time for reflection. That’s something that I and we are going to respect and honor. When he’s ready to come back to the PGA Tour, we’re going to have that conversation.” Click on link below for a full transcript of Monahan’s comments.

A hot topic throughout the short offseason, the PGA Tour is officially allowing players to take their talents to the Middle East in the early part of 2022. Those players taking advantage of the release include the likes of Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau. The stipulation for those playing in the Saudi International is their presence will be required at the AT&T Pebble Pro-Am in the near future. Per the PGA Tour statement, “Players who have played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at least once in the past five years were granted a release on the condition that they commit to play it at least once in the next two years (’23, ’24).” Additionally, “Players who have not played the historic tournament on the Monterey Peninsula at least once in the past five years were granted a release on the condition that they commit to play it at least twice in the next three years (’23, ’24, ’25).”

There is a lot to unpack with this new schedule, so head over to the source link for a full breakdown. There are three events that will be played twice during the 2021 season (U.S. Open, the Masters, and Corales). The latter will be receiving full FedExCup Points for the first time and the same can be said for the Bermuda Championship which is now a 500-point event as a result of the WGC-HSBC getting canceled. The Valspar Championship provided some flexibility by moving away from the Florida Swing and getting it’s own date in late May. Logistically that’s not ideal but it will allow golfers some more wiggle room to pick and choose the Florida events that want to play in, instead of letting the schedule decide for them. As for Playoff talk, the BMW Championship will be heading to Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mill, Maryland. One thing is for sure, gamers will have no trouble staying busy next year.

With golf suspended since the first round of THE PLAYERS, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan unfurled the plans, explaining that the first four events would be played behind closed doors. He added: “The health and safety of all associated with the PGA TOUR and our global community continues to be our No. 1 priority, and our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love. Today’s announcement is another positive step … but as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.” Key points to note beyond the first event: the RBC Canadian Open is canceled, the RBC Heritage moves to the second week back (June 15-21), the Memorial Tournament is now in July (13-19, previously Open week), the WGC FedFex St Jude transfers to July 27-Aug 2, a total of 36 events and expanded fields at the three invitational events to increase playing opportunities.