Renowned golfer Tiger Woods is poised to receive a substantial £80.4 million loyalty bonus from the PGA Tour, commending his steadfast commitment amidst tempting offers from rival LIV Golf. The PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, is set to send Woods an official notification on Thursday regarding this bonus, a part of the PGA Tour Enterprises’ £2.4 billion investment initiative.
Leading the pack of beneficiaries, Woods stands alongside a select group of golfing elites expected to benefit immensely, with Rory McIlroy anticipated to receive a generous £40 million payout. Notably, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are also in line for significant staggered payments, each projected to receive £25 million.
According to insights shared by The Telegraph, a major portion of this investment will be distributed among 193 golfers, while a substantial £603 million is earmarked for 36 prominent players, including Woods and McIlroy. Notably absent from this roster is the current World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who, like Woods and McIlroy, has opted to remain loyal to the PGA Tour despite enticing offers from LIV Golf.
The allocation of funds is primarily determined by career points accrued in the PGA Tour, elucidating the substantial bonuses awarded to Woods and McIlroy, given their impressive track records with 82 and 24 Tour titles respectively.
With the PGA Tour’s equity poised for continued growth, players can anticipate reaping significant rewards in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the allure of LIV Golf’s immediate financial gains, exemplified by their staggering offer of £361.9 million to Jon Rahm, presents a formidable challenge to the PGA Tour’s long-term appeal.
Noteworthy among the new investors in the PGA Tour is Fenway Sports, the owners of Liverpool FC, whose involvement is instrumental in facilitating these enhancements.
Ongoing discussions between the PGA, LIV Golf [PIF], and the DP World Tour underscore the evolving landscape of professional golf, with McIlroy demonstrating a softened stance towards players considering lucrative offers from Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Despite swirling speculations regarding McIlroy’s purported £672 million offer from LIV Golf following his departure from the PGA Tour’s policy board, the 34-year-old swiftly dispelled such rumors and recently resumed his position on the PGA Tour’s policy board.
Reflecting on his recent hiatus, McIlroy candidly acknowledged the juggling act between his golfing career, familial responsibilities, and burgeoning investment commitments, emphasizing the complexity of managing multiple priorities.
Woods’ participation in PGA events this season has been limited, with appearances at the Genesis Invitational and the Masters. However, his performance has been hindered by health issues, notably withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational due to back problems and flu symptoms. At the Masters, Woods faced a challenging run, concluding with a total of 304 strokes [+16], placing him in 60th position.
