LIV Golf Has Changed the Sport, and the Idea PGA Tour Once Mocked Is Now Being Adopted by Them as Response

PGA Tour is going through turbulent times as big stars are shifting to the Saudi-backed golf league. But the Tour has always had a stern opinion on the unique format of the LIV Golf Invitational Series events and has mocked the same in the past. However, a recent announcement by the Tour’s commissioner may point otherwise.

PGA Tour following LIV Golf Tour’s exhibition trend

The LIV Golf Invitational series has probably changed the sport. The 54-hole events with no cuts, a rarity in golf, are the main foundation of the Saudi-backed golf league. Moreover, in the past, the PGA Tour, which mocked the new tour by saying it is just an exhibition due to the shotgun starts, reduced fields of 48 players, and no cuts, has recently adopted the same. Not to forget, the LIV Golf Invitational Series now includes some of the most prominent professionals in golf, including Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson.

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According to sources, the Tour plans a major revamp in its format next year, in 2023. There will be some marquee events with no cuts, colossal prize money purses, and reduced fields in the new format. The plans were discussed with the Tour members in the recent meeting held at the Travelers Championship.

Under the new schedule, eight important Tour events will have increased prize money worth $20 million. Sources say the increased pool events include the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Genesis Invitational, and others.
Apart from these eight events, three international events with prize money purses of $25 million will also take place in the fall schedule.

These three events will not include any cutline. The top 60 players in the previous year’s FedEx Cup Standings will be in the events. At the same time, these tournaments won’t have a fixed location, and they will take place like major championship events worldwide at different locations.

Moreover, if the sources are accurate, the PGA Tour is merely adopting a policy similar to the LIV Golf. At the same time, it also seems like the whole narrative of professional golf is changing to shorter events without cuts and a limited playing field. An idea the Tour once mocked as an ‘Exhibition’ is what will be the driving force of their response to LIV Golf. However, only time will tell if the plan will become a reality.

Who is the defending champion this week?

Harris English is the defending champion this week at the Travelers Championship. He ended the event with an overall score of 13-under-par in 2021. As a result, English forced a playoff between himself and Kramer Hickok. Moreover, Harris carded a final round of five-under-par, 65 to finish on the top of the leaderboard.

His final round included three birdies and six pars on the opening nine holes. As a result, he moved out in three-under-par, 32. English made three birdies and one bogey on the back nine. In the end, he defeated Hickok in an epic eight-hole playoff.

What do you think about the PGA Tour’s plan? Share your views in the comment section.

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