As it competes with LIV Golf to try and keep players, the PGA Tour is addressing the ways it can change its calendar and offer more money to athletes.
The Tour was considering a plan to host a global series of three events featuring top players and large purses, but that has been set aside for now according to ESPN.
Purses at these events would be as much as $25 million featuring the top-50 players in the standings for the FedEx Cup and the best performers at some events from the fall.
Plans for these tournaments that featured limited fields and no cuts were announced in early August, but did not have dates or locations attached.
The PGA Tour won’t be expanding or announcing plans of an international series any time soon
Commissioner Jay Monahan initially announced the plans at this press conference at the Travelers Championship back in late June
Instead of that limited series, the PGA Tour will reportedly increase the size of the purses for 13 tournaments with an average size of $20 million for each.
Those 13 tournaments will be some of the more popular events on the tour calendar including the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, the Memorial Tournament, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, and four additional tournaments that will be on a rotating basis through existing events.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has made a number of changes in an attempt at keeping players happy and where they currently are.
The tour guaranteed a minimum salary of $500,000 to rookies, which can be received up front, and lower-ranked players will get a $5,000 stipend for each missed cut.
Additionally, the top players have committed to playing at least 20 tournaments per year – which can include the four majors.
The initial announcement of the international series at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut back on June 22nd at a press conference.
Following the 2023 calendar, the tour plans to return to a streamlined schedule running from January to August.
Monahan’s schedule changes will allow top players to earn more and compete in select events