DThe PGA Tour has announced a reorganization of its tournament schedule for the 2024 season to remain competitive in the battle with the rival LIV Golf Invitational Series. According to the plans for the US tour, there should be a certain number of tournaments with a limited number of participants, no cut and higher prize money. The move follows talks between the tour and stars like Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods. PGA boss Jay Monahan has not yet announced which eight events that will be.
The competition tour LIV reacted with mockery to the restructuring. “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations to the PGA Tour. Welcome to the future,” read the LIV Golf Twitter account. A similar format is already being played on the LIV tour: 48 professionals play for victory over three days, there is no cut. There is also an individual and a team rating.
LIV Golf attracted numerous well-known professionals from the PGA Tour last year with enormously high entry fees and prize money, including Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Germany’s top golfer Martin Kaymer. The individual competition is endowed with 20 million US dollars – the winner gets four million US dollars.
The tour has been criticized for the financial involvement of Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
However, the pros on the PGA Tour also see the creation of the LIV Golf Invitational Series as a driver for the reforms. “I don’t think we would be here so quickly without LIV,” said world number one Max Homa: “It seems that the emergence of LIV has forced us players and PGA Tour executives to look at the product.” The four-time Major winner McIlroy praised the PGA’s move: “I love it. Of course I was a part of it and took part in many discussions. I think it makes the Tour more competitive.”
