Monahan: PGA TOUR can't contend with financial backing of LIV Golf
Commissioner Jay Monahan didn't mince words Wednesday when talking about the potential threat LIV Golf poses to the PGA TOUR.
"I am not naive," Monahan told reporters in a press conference at the Travelers Championship. "If this is an arms race, and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA TOUR can't compete ... with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf."
He added: "It's an irrational threat, one not concerned with the return on investment or true growth of the game."
When asked if he underestimated LIV Golf, Monahan said he's "taken it very seriously from the outset."
Monahan also unveiled a variety of changes to the TOUR schedule and FedEx Cup on Wednesday, plans which he said were "accelerated" due to the emergence of the Saudi-backed series.
The memo detailing the changes was sent to the players before the press conference.
Eight current events will see major purse increases for next season, which will add more than $50 million in additional prize money.
| Event | 2022 | 2023 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | $8.2M | $15M | $6.8M |
| Genesis Invitational | $12M | $20M | $8M |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | $12M | $20M | $8M |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | $20M | $25M | $5M |
| WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play | $12M | $20M | $8M |
| The Memorial Tournament | $12M | $20M | $8M |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | $15M | $20M | $5M |
| BMW Championship | $15M | $20M | $5M |
The TOUR will return to a calendar-year schedule in 2024. The FedEx Cup season will run from January to August, followed by the fall events that will determine the top 125 golfers and finalize eligibility for the next FedEx Cup season.
Also starting in 2024, the TOUR will begin a three-event, no-cut international series in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. That will be played at the conclusion of the fall schedule and will feature the top 50 players from the final FedEx Cup points list. Details are currently under review and will be revealed at a later date.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs will see a revised field size beginning in 2023. Seventy players will compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, 50 will take part in the BMW Championship, and 30 will participate in the TOUR Championship.
The top 70 players who qualify for the first FedEx Cup Playoffs event will be fully exempt for the following season, including the invitationals.
The Travelers Championship tees off Thursday as the Open Championship looms. R&A announced Wednesday that LIV Golf members will be able to compete at St. Andrews.