The PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has admitted that the LIV Golf series had applied for Official World Golf Ranking points. To make this determination, an 8-person board of the OWGR will will have to decide. Some industry professionals say that whatever the shake-out, that in 2023 the Tour will surely undergo a majorchange, as it is set to bring about eight new, no-cut, events for the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup rankings to earn substantial cash rewards.
So, where has the money been all this time? Many courious fans and players are asking that same question. PGA Tour players have already been made aware of the wholesale changes to the tour schedule and FedEx Cup that will begin in the fall of 2023, according to several of the pros who were present at a mandatory meeting ahead of this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.
The money pot grows starting next year, when schedule of the PGA Tour will add eight limited-field no-cut events, with purses of $20 million or more each. The big grab will be available for the top 50 finishers in the prior season’s FedEx Cup standings. Tournaments are spread apart, with some taking place during the prime of the season, with others happening in the fall. Players who rank outside the top 50 will be able to compete in an alternate series of tournaments, competing to keep their cards and earn better status for the following season. This structure change would be enacted in conjunction with the tour returning to a season based on the calendar year. If you recall, back in the 2013-14 season, the tour switched from a calendar-based schedule to a wraparound campaign.
The 90-minutes meeting with players was informative, however, it seemed to bring about a lot more questions than answers. For about 30-minutes, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan spoke and reiterated his belief that the PGA Tour is in a great position. Although he described the tour as being “under attack”, he assured players that they are “strong when we are united,” and referenced its strong, long-standing relationship with its corporate partners.
Monahan did acknowledge that the LIV Golf series had applied for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. Whether they receive those will be up to the eight-person board of the OWGR, which includes heavy-hitters Monahan, DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley, along with representatives from the USGA, R&A, PGA of America, Augusta National Golf Club and the International Federation of PGA Tours. Chairman of the OWGR board Peter Dawson is the former CEO of the R&A. So, that alone brings some thought for later, ongoing conversations.
Until the board makes its decision as to whether to give points to the LIV Golf events, there will be substantial waiting period in effect. If the board decides not to give the points, players would only be able to earn points through the major championships. Currently, PGA Tour’s suspension of LIV players and their lawyers are feeling very confident about their battle in court. And those opportunities will become scarce, as the OWGR is used to fill out major fields beyond those already exempt.
PGA Tour officials acknowledged talk of further integration between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, which sources have told Golf Digest is under consideration from both sides, but discuss in any detail, according to SocialGolfer.com. The DP World Tour has also received significant pressure from its rank-and-file members to engage with LIV Golf, for they see the DPWT as the loser in a tit-for-tat battle between the PGA Tour and LIV.
The drama continues….
