PGA Tour’s Sweeping Changes Include New Events, $20M Average Purse

Big changes are coming to the PGA Tour, led by two of its top stars.

As the Tour faces competition from LIV Golf, commissioner Jay Monahan announced a host of changes to ramp up excitement for fans and add incentives for players in a letter obtained by Front Office Sports

• A set of players have committed to playing in 12 headline events in the FedEx Cup regular season, plus The Players Championship, the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.
• Four events have been elevated within the FedEx Cup, in addition to another four announced in June. The events will have an average purse of $20 million.
• The Tour’s Player Impact Program, which rewards players who draw attention to the game, will double its total payout to $100 million per season and reward 20 players. Criteria will be altered, including the removal of a social media component.
• Fully exempt members will be guaranteed $500,000 per year, starting in 2023, and earn against that minimum until it is reached. Rookies will be paid upfront.

The Tiger and Rory Tournament

In addition to those changes, the Tour is working with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on a new type of golf competition. The two co-founded TMRW Sports Group with CEO Mike McCarley, which is launching The TGL golf league – a stadium-based competition with virtual courses.

The tournament has promised six teams of three golfers each, which will play 18 holes over two hours in 15 Monday night matches, beginning in January 2024. Networks are already showing interest in media rights for The TGL.