TRENDING: PGA TOUR’s LIV Solution to Keeping Players on Board

With the forthcoming Koepka announcement, the PGA TOUR is struggling with the fact that it is struggling to keep its higher profile players on their side of the aisle.  Indeed, while Koepka hasn’t returned to his 4-Major 2017-18 level of performance, the simple fact is that he was a big part of the 2020 Ryder Cup team—now the 3rd member from that winning team, alongside DJ and Bryson, who has departed.

One notable change communicated to PGA Tour players in meeting this morning: the fall season will look totally different starting in 2023.

Top 50 in FedEx Cup will play in bonus events

Rest of tour will be playing for priority numbers/to keep their cards

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 21, 2022

In an effort to “stop the bleeding,” the PGA TOUR appears to be developing certain modifications.  Rumors kicked up earlier this week following Abraham Ancer’s departure that the TOUR would be presenting some of its proposed changes to players before the Travelers Championship, and it appears that Dan Rapaport has some insight on one of the ideas:  8 high payout events limited to the top 50 ranked golfers.

It doesn’t take a close inspection to see how the “inflated payout event” strategy is right out of the LIV playbook.  And while this is better than doing nothing, my thoughts are this doesn’t actually fix the underlying problem.  In fact, this limited field maybe pours more salt in the proverbial wound that’s driven TOUR players to LIV.
Embed from Getty Images
To explain, one of the commonly voided frustrations among the new LIV competitors is that the PGA TOUR has been withholding money from the players that should’ve been spread out more appropriately over the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry TOUR, and PGA Tour Latinoamérica. 

Rather than acknowledging this and increasing the purses on all events by offering meaningful payouts to all golfers, rather than just inflating the prize for the top handful of guys, the PGA TOUR is now proposing that only the top 50—who likely are already financially benefitting from their top performance and accompanying endorsement deals—will be eligible to even compete in these special, high payout events.

Embed from Getty Images
In other words, the guys who were already hurting and, thus, seriously considering joining LIV to help support themselves and all their financial commitments (family, coaches, trainers, etc.), are being entirely excluded from the PGA TOUR’s proposed “solution.”

It’s worth noting that the PGA TOUR’s  Player Impact Program (PIP) bonus introduced last year failed for the similar reasons, i.e., that it ultimately benefitted players— Tiger Woods ($8 million), Phil Mickelson ($6 million), Rory McIlroy ($3.5 million), Jordan Spieth ($3.5 million), Bryson DeChambeau ($3.5 million), Justin Thomas ($3.5 million), Dustin Johnson ($3 million), Brooks Koepka ($3 million), Jon Rahm ($3 million), and Bubba Watson ($3 million)—who would have financially thrive regardless where they played.  Speaking of which, that’s now four of the the inaugural 10 PIP bonus recipients who have departed for LIV, taking a combined $15.5 million with them in the process.

Embed from Getty Images

Now, it’s certainly early—for both the PGA TOUR and LIV—and I anticipate that as more players continue to head for other pastures, the PGA TOUR will continue to try and make additional changes that help retain—rather than lose—the talent. 

But given that current Commissioner Jay Monahan passed the point of no return long ago, a change in leadership may first be necessary to fix the underlying problem.

Cover Image Via Twitter