BLOG #105 ITEM#28 Jan 15, 2024 PGA/PIF look for 2025 

BLOG #105

ITEM#28 Jan 15, 2024 PGA/PIF look for 2025 

When an agreement is finally made between LIV-PIF and PGA-DP World the future of this event will be in doubt.  I don’t think 2 events can survive in Hawaii.  There are now 16 important PGA events, all but 1 (The OPEN) played in the US.  This year there will be 14 LIV events, 7 in the USA and 7 worldwide.  

I think the 2025 season may be 1 league,“THE PGA WORLD TOUR” consisting of 8 US signature events, 4 majors, The Players, 3 FedX Tour championship series, and 7 International LIV events for a total of 23 with a total purse of $555M.  

Purse Breakdown:

8 PGA Signature events 8X$20M $160M

1 The Players $25MX1 $25M

4 PGA Majors 4X $20M $80M

3 FedX Tour Championships 2X20M + $75M $115M

7 LIV World events 7X25M $175M

A few of the DP, LIV & current PGA events will be part of the “New PGA”.  It will be a 12 month schedule with most, but not all events taking place on the off weeks of the “PGA WORLD TOUR” allowing some of the top players from that tour to participate in a few “New PGA” events.  This New PGA TOUR will give some star appeal for the fans, and the opportunity for younger and good players in their 40’s to compete and have a chance to earn substantial money now available on the non signature, non major events.  It could start in January with the Sony offering a $9M purse and conclude with the RSM Classic in mid November with a purse of $8.4M. In between there would be 29 events with a combined purse of $250M to $300M.  With a field off about 100 this would allow each player to earn an average of $3M.  I realize that this may over simplify the solution for an agreement but I think it would be a good model to fine-tune and give professional golfers the income potential that they desire and would be affordable.

This past week Justin Thomas was quoted “I would rather watch an WNBA game than a LIV golf event.  While this was probably not “politically correct” I agree.  I am not a big WNBA fan, or NBA fan for that matter.  However the WNBA has a small but loyal following and the regular season seems irrelevant in the NBA as proven by their Christmas Day TV ratings against the NFL.  However the LIV TV coverage is awful, and by their ratings and most golf fans agree. 

P.S.  While I do not like the team concept, it appears that many players do.  I still maintain that golf is more entertaining as an individual sport but I think any agreement would have to include the team concept.  If so, it should limited to the 7 LIV events that are part of PGA WORLD TOUR.  Even though many players feel Ryder Cup is their finest memory, it still has its drawbacks as the last 2 dominating victories showed.