A new challenger to the PGA Tour is in the works, players to be paid double
As if there isn’t enough money on the PGA Tour, Reuters reported Monday that competition is on the way, with the stakes potentially being enormous.
The British-based World Golf Group is planning to present the World Golf Series, where purses will reportedly approach $20 million per event.
For perspective, the Masters and Players Championship both featured purses close to $11 million, and the European Tour’s Rolex Series, meanwhile, offers tournaments with $7 million purses.
Of course, most tournaments on the PGA Tour offer considerably less than $10 million in prize money, so if the World Golf Group can really pay out $20 million per event, they would, in many cases, be doubling the purse.
This wouldn’t serve as a PGA Tour replacement, but rather a 15-20 event season to give players a choice of where they want to play.
And given that choice, it is no surprise that players are chatting.
Speaking off the record, one top-level player stated the obvious.
“Why would you not be interested — 18 tournaments for $20 million?” the player told Reuters.
That type of thinking, while understandable, would certainly not sit well with the PGA Tour.
One key ace in the PGA’s hand is the world rankings.
If players didn’t receive points for a new tour’s events, that could be a major deterrent, according to British agent Andrew “Chubby” Chandler.
“Every player’s deal is centered around world ranking points,” he told Reuters.
“This series will never get world ranking points, so it will cost people money in the end. I think there are a lot of obstacles to get over.”
Just as the money would be critical, so too would participation.
“The cards are stacked against them if they don’t get six of the world’s top 10 players to sign up,” said Chandler.
Should the World Golf Series come to fruition, it will be interesting to see how many players value cash over points.
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