NEW GOLF TOUR? PGA Tour v. Premier Golf League

Options are always a good thing. Naturally, the alternative needs to do and offer something unique to separate itself from the competing concept to keep it exciting, such as the XFL to the NFL. However, the NFL, more or less, owns a day of the week and isn’t overly concerned because the XFL has scheduled its season to not overlap.

But what happens when the mainstream option feels the heat and decides to speak out against the competition? And before anything has even happened? It makes you wonder, maybe the grass is greener on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Golf Digest (@golfdigest) on Jan 29, 2020 at 6:26am PST

The upstart Premier Golf League (PGL) is looking to make a very aggressive push into the world of professional golf competitions. As of this moment, the PGL Tour plans to hold 18 global events and feature 48-player fields, 54-hole competitions, no cuts, team and individual formats, and purses as high as $10 million. The first season is tentatively scheduled for 2022/2023, but event scheduling is expected to be in direct conflict with the PGA Tour.

Apparently the PGA Tour is feeling the heat and is looking to cut the competition down right at the knees. Indeed, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has taken a very strong stance and stated in an email that, “[i]f the Team Golf Concept or another iteration of this structure becomes a reality in 2022 or at any time before or after, our members will have to decide whether they want to continue to be a member of the PGA Tour or play on a new series.”

In other words, that golfers will NOT be permitted to be a member of the PGA Tour and PGL, and it appears that, if necessary, the PGA Tour will undertake certain measures to prevent the same (and, ultimately, preventing the growth and success of the PGL).

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Chach Golf ⛳️ (@chachgolf) on Jan 29, 2020 at 11:50am PST

Only adding to the firestorm is that, under the current rules concerning membership of the PGA Tour, players agree to limit appearances on competing circuits up to 3 conflicting events per year. Generally, additional exemptions are granted if there are commitments to play in additional PGA Tour events.

To illustrate how serious how serious the PGA Tour is about protecting its control over the member golfers, it’s worth noting that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both needed to seek an exemption to compete in the The Match: Tiger vs. Phil.

Further drawing attention to this contested issue is that professional golfers Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy have both commented on the PGL and stated that they “love” the idea and that the PGL could become the much needed “catalyst” for change on the PGA Tour, respectively.

Certain golfers have even been approached about the PGL, including Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson who both have commented that they need more information.

Embed from Getty Images

Clearly there’s some strong interest from such very influential people, which, perhaps, makes the dispositive question “who will join first?” If a Brooks Koepka, DJ, Rory and/or, dare I say, Tiger were to join the PGL, the PGA Tour would, in all likelihood, need to walk back its statements and allow players to do both. I mean, I don’t think anyone would want to see a PGA Championship, U.S. Open or Masters without any of these guys.

While 2020 has already been a very chaotic year, it’s refreshing to finally have a “world issue” that resonates with me and has me excited to see how things will play out.

Cover Image Via Instagram