Premier Golf League

[Golfnut1957]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/57382968

This one is a different one from the Saudi backed Super Golf League and they sound serious

 

[Imurg]

The principle is the same though.
18 tournaments
Plus the Majors, plus the WGCs that's 26 tournaments.
That's mostly the schedule of the top players each year, give or take.
If it goes ahead the PGA and ET won't have to ban players - they won't need to come.
Nearly 3 million a year for turning up and coming last every week - nice work if you can get it.

 

[Golfnut1957]

I think that the deal maker or breaker will be access to world ranking points. As you say, with that kind of money, the top players won't need to venture anywhere near the PGA or European Tours. But if they need world ranking points to play in the majors, and they are denied access to them by the current powers, then they will automatically be excluded from the majors.
Head or heart?
Money or glory?

 

[IainP]

The majors aren't run by the tours though despite what the PGA Tour try to make out.

It's probably a case of "better the devil you know" but there is a bit of me that would quite like to see the PGA Tour sidelined

 

[Golfnut1957]

The majors aren't run by the tours though despite what the PGA Tour try to make out.

It's probably a case of "better the devil you know" but there is a bit of me that would quite like to see the PGA Tour sidelined

You are correct they aren't, but the OGWR are and that's what currently gets you into majors. If these break a way tours want the top players they will almost certainly have to find a way to make OGWR points available to them and I don't know how they do that.

 

[sweaty sock]

The majors need the top players probably more than the top players need the majors. So they'll change qualification to suit.

Given a top player is only likely to win 1 or 2 majors, theres no good reason not to ignore them for significantly more money.

There are very few romantics left that would choose the other way. Exhibit A, any event in saudi

 

[howbow88]

'Thomas Jefferson, the declaration of independence talked about life, love and the pursuit of happiness and that includes the ability to work as you want to.'

I'm not quite sure that Thomas Jefferson really had in mind that multi-millionaires should become multi-multi-multi-millionaires, when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

 

[fenwayrich]

Will they have relegation at the end of the year? And if so, will the failures be welcomed back by the established Tours after being sidelined by the big money men?

 

[Imurg]

The majors need the top players probably more than the top players need the majors. So they'll change qualification to suit.

I'd argue that.
A player's place in the history of the game is, largely, determined by how many Majors they've won, not by how much money they've won.

 

[sweaty sock]

True, but majors change. Western Open used to be considered a major, North and South open used to be a major. The big four majors never used to include the us pga or masters, it used to be the US Open, US Amatuer, Open championship, British Amatuer.

Its clear to me that to keep their Major status alive, the current big four will make sure the best players are there, no matter what tour they are on...

 

[njrose51]

Players say they want to win majors over anything else. Can you imagine the R&A or Augusta not changing the qualification processes??? The European Tour is basically funded by the home Ryder Cup. No top players risks no sponsors, TV or streaming deals. European Tour Rolex events have such strict conditions to meet based on top players attending. They can claim back money if conditions not met. The legal ramifications are huge if the two tours ban players and whilst arguments are being made the players could just join the PGL anyway. Mcilroy is playing so badly and looks so disheartened you can imagine him jumping ship to potentially easier tournaments along with Mickleson and possibly Woods. Will only take a couple of players joining to set the ball rolling. Backed by big money expect ludicrous joining fees to be offered!!! The PGL will listen to the top players, the potential sponsors and those governing the majors and adjust the plans until they have it too good to turn down.

 

[Jigger]

I’m always surprised in this day and age that there is always a lack of female inclusion.

 

[njrose51]

I’m always surprised in this day and age that there is always a lack of female inclusion.

I think if I read the article correctly they said they’d invest in the ladies game?

 

[r0wly86]

Would the Majors really not want to have the 50 best players in their tournaments, after all they want to attract crowds and sponsors to make money. Excluding the biggest stars in the game could end up costing them millions in revenue.

It would be interesting if they make any changes to the format or production, things like the Packer World Series completely revolutionised the game of cricket in terms of the production values.

 

[Jigger]

I think if I read the article correctly they said they’d invest in the ladies game?

yes but “invest more” never means equality. It means they Chuck another few mil at them as a token gesture no doubt.