PGA Tour to reward its biggest stars with $750 million windfall

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are set to pocket a share of $750 million.

A week on from announcing the creation of PGA Tour Enterprises in association with Strategic Sports Group, the PGA Tour has revealed how it plans to reward members through its new equity program, with $750 million set to be distributed among 36 of its biggest stars.

That figure alone represents half of the money set aside by the Tour to reward players for their loyalty with an equity stake in PGA Tour Enterprises.

In a memo to members issued on February 7, PGA Tour Chief Executive Jay Monahan outlined how an initial $930 million in equity will be divvied up, with players – past and present – being grouped into four separate categories.

As per Golf.com, over 80% of the grants will be shared among 36 ‘category one’ golfers with the biggest names and reputations on the PGA Tour, such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

The distribution, which is based on career performance, last five-year performance, and player impact program (PIP) results, is unlikely to go down well with the Tour’s rank-and-file members, many of whom have already voiced their displeasure about how bonuses and FedEx Cup points for limited-field signature events are allocated.

Category two is reserved for 64 players and $75 million of equity, which will granted according to performances over the last three years.

Another $30 million will then be shared among 57 players who meet certain PGA Tour fully exempt categories.

The remaining portion, worth $75 million, is for 36 legends who were “instrumental in building the modern PGA Tour based on career performance”. Jack Nicklaus is perhaps the most obvious example as a lifetime member, though it’s easy to conclude that Phil Mickelson will not be considered given his allegiances to LIV.

Members can, however, only qualify for one grant, which will be paid out to all eligible players before the end of March.

A further $600 million will then be made available via recurring grants, starting in 2025 and continuing through to at least the 2030 season.

That means $100 million will be doled out each year to the Tour’s top performers based on performances over the last three years, the last year, and the PIP results, which are published annually.

“Like the initial grants, the recurring grants will require minimum participation and/or service requirements commensurate with the value to the grant,” the memo read.

Monahan – one of the most influential figures in golf – is expected to reveal more details in his annual press conference at the Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, next month.

Negotiations, meanwhile, are continuing with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), with the view to making them a co-investor in the new PGA Tour Enterprises.

The next PGA Tour event begins today at the Phoenix Open, in Scottsdale, at the same time as the second LIV event of the season in Las Vegas.

About the author

Michael Catling – Features Editor

Michael Catling is an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with the game’s biggest names, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Martin Slumbers and Justin Thomas.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on X.