The 2023 PGA Tour is in its last phase of tourneys, with Hero World Challenge and Tiger Woods’ return being the clean finish of the leg. As the golf world’s focus on the off-season events now ought to shift, there has been a stir in the air that has cleared the old speculations around what awaits the audience in 2024.
Amid the bustle of the golf world, PGA Tour authorities have released a letter—directly addressed by the players on board, that has cleared the rumors and claims around the investors, adding substance to the tour’s forthcoming motives with the players and plans with PIF and DPWT.
In a recent update, Lauren Hirsch took to her X handle to update the world of golf about PGA Tour and PGAT players’ new moves. Hirsch wrote: “@TigerWoods @patrick_cantlay and other player directors on the PGA Tour board just sent this out to PGA Tour players.”
The report clarified in the beginning that because of the noise surrounding the game and the 2024 start, the players wanted to come forth and speak with the fans and the golf silo upfront. The players on the members board— Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, and Tiger Woods, in the notice mention the key areas they want to focus on.
As per the released directives, the PGA Tour associates and authorities are looking at the formation of a government committee to review the board policies. A follow-up on the 13th November memo has noted that the PGA Tour board is still in talks about the negotiations related to the PIF and DP World Tour agreement. Known that the board has been in contact with investors who are to bring billions to the table, the release has confirmed that the players and the members of the board have directly met with these giants, and the talks are not about “traditional private equity groups” but “multi-decade oriented, strategic partners.”
The notice also clarified some other confusions that the golf world might have had around the game and what awaits the players and their professional future on the tour.
What else can the players and the fans expect?
The report mentioned that the players on board are a body—speaking as one voice for the best interest of all PGA Tour members, and have agreed that they will work to reach a consensus before passing or voting on any proposal that “either creates a for-profit entity or contemplates third-party investment.”
It has also been specified that the authorities on board will come up with a program based on which the members will have direct ownership of the tour through equity grants. The premise around it is that this step will further bring the interests of the members and the tour authorities in line. A point mentioned in the text clarifies that the investors have been supportive of this particular initiative of building an alignment program. Now, as the golf world settles with the news, what awaits on the other end, only time can tell. Till then, stay tuned.
