PGA Tour challenges Saudi-backed LIV with $160 million prize money event

After weeks of haemorrhaging top players from the Saudi-backed LIV golf league, the PGA Tour has now offered an eight-event series with up to $160 million in total prize money.

The PGA Tour reportedly discussed its week’s major event in a mandatory meeting with several players ahead of the Travelers Championship, according to Golf Digest. The eight non-limited field cup events would offer “prizes of $20 million or more each, for the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings from the previous season.”

“Some of these events will take place in the heart of the season, while others will take place in the fall,” the outlet reported. “Those not in the top 50 will participate in an alternate series of tournaments, where they will fight to keep their cards and earn better status for the following season.”

During the meeting, which lasted around 90 minutes, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan spoke at length about protecting the tour, which he described as being “under attack”, while advising players to stay strong and united.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

As LIV Golf began siphoning off top players from the PGA Tour, Jay Monahan previously threatened players with penalties and suspensions if they made the series, which seemed to have almost no effect. As a result, top golfers like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson joined LIV along with Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell and Talor Gooch.

The PGA Tour suspends current and future players from LIV. pic.twitter.com/lKhxo27Ida

— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) June 9, 2022

According to Fox News, “Two-time PGA Tour winner Charl Schwartzel has become the first-ever LIV Golf Invitational champion last week and won $4.75 million, making it the richest tournament in golf history.

Tiger Woods has reportedly turned down a ‘nine-figure’ offer to compete at LIV after publicly expressing his loyalty to the PGA.

“You know, [Phil Mickelson] has his opinion on the direction he envisions for the game of golf. I have my perspective on how I see the game of golf, and I’ve supported the tour and my foundation has hosted events on the tour for a number of years,” Woods said. just think what jack [Nicklaus] and Arnold [Palmer] did starting the tour and breaking away from the PGA of America and creating our tour in ’68 or ’69, somewhere in there I just think there’s a legacy to that,” he added. .