LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The PGA Tour said Monday it plans to increase prize money at its most lucrative events in 2022, pumping millions more dollars into limited-field tournaments in a move that comes amid reports of a new Saudi Arabia-backed golf series.
In a memo sent to players on Monday (Nov 22), PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan outlined plans to boost purses for players across the board.
"Financial rewards and other benefits-not just for the top players but for the entire membership-are growing at an extraordinary pace," Monahan wrote adding the tour is "stronger than at any time in our history."
The FedExCup bonus pool for 2022 has increased by US$15 million (S$20.5 million) to US$75 million, while the FedEx Cup champion will receive a whopping US$18 million - up from the US$15 million scooped by Patrick Cantlay earlier this year.
The opening two events of the FedEx Cup playoffs - the St. Jude and the BMW Championship - will each increase their purses by more than US$5 million to US$15 million.
The Players Championship prize money has been increased from US$15 million to US$20 million, making it the richest event in golf.
The PGA Tour's three invitational events - the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Jack Nicklaus's Memorial will now offer US$12 million each in prize money - an increase of nearly US$3 million per tournament.
The annual US$10 million bonus pool on offer for the Tour's top 10 players during the regular season has also been doubled to US$20 million.
The tour will also increase money distributed via its Player Impact Programme, the controversial initiative launched this year designed to recognise and reward players whose impact and influence is measured by different metrics such as social media engagements and media coverage generated.
The Player Impact Programme prize pool has increased from US$40 million to US$50 million.
Although Monahan's memo made no mention of rival tours, details of the boosted prize money come just weeks after former world No. 1 Greg Norman announced plans to launch 10 new events with the Asian Tour over the next decade.
The partnership comes with financial backing from PIF - the Saudi sovereign wealth fund involved in the recent takeover of Premier League side Newcastle United - and a commitment of more than US$200 million.
The new events will be staged across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and the series will be added to the Asian Tour schedule starting next year.
Asian Tour commissioner and chief executive Cho Minn Thant told AFP earlier this month that Norman and his Saudi backers harbour ambitions to start a "super league."
