PGA Tour star launches furious rant as McIlroy and Woods handed huge bonuses
The PGA Tour's £80 million ($100m) Player Impact Programme has been slammed by one of its playing members after 20 of the circuit's most popular names received a share of the mega-money bonus.
The biggest beneficiary was Rory McIlroy, after the Northern Irishman earned a cool £12 million ($15m) for topping the list for the very first time. He replaced 2021 and 2022 leader Tiger Woods, who was forced to settle for second this year and a £9.6 million ($12m) payout.
The programme was implemented two years ago, and was put in place to reward players who boost publicity and draw interest into the PGA Tour throughout the campaign.
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Initially, the prize pool stood at £40 million ($50m) and was distributed across 10 players, but the figure and the amount of recipients was then doubled as part of a whole host of Tour changes last year. Not everybody is on board though, including Tour player Nate Lashley.
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Lashley took to Instagram to criticise the Tour's programme policy, and called for a change in circuit leadership. He wrote on Instagram: "How many golf fans actually know what the PIP on the PGA Tour is? Would love to hear from golf/PGA fans if they think this $100 million was spent well?
"There’s 150-200 members of the PGA Tour and they just spent $100 million on 20 players. Seems a little ridiculous. Time for new leadership on the PGA Tour. This is an absolute kick in the face to the rest of the PGA Tour players." Lashley was not the only frustrated pro.
DP World Tour star Eddie Pepperell had his say on the payout, taking a similar stance to his American counterpart. Pro golf is on a one way street to nowhere. Lost its mind, and I’ve lost my respect and love for it," the Englishman wrote on X (formerly Twitter ).
Pepperell comments were then echoed by fellow DP World Tour star Pablo Larrazabal, who highlighted the difference in payments between the PGA Tour and the Wentworth-based circuit. "The @PGATOUR gives away 100 Million to the Players Impact Program (PIP), 3 times more than the money that they pay to the @DPWorldTour for all year," he tweeted.
The Spanish star went on to call on recently appointed PGA Tour Player Director Jordan Spieth to make some changes for the benefit of European golf. "Well, I hope that @JordanSpieth (new chairman of the PGA players board) makes the @DPWorldTour great again," he added.
The two tours currently find themselves apart of a 'strategic alliance' that was strengthened in 2022 amid the rising threat of LIV Golf. As part of their agreement, the DP World Tour's top 10 performers from 2023 were handed a Tour card for 2024. Among those to benefit was European Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre, as well as world No. 46 Adrian Meronk.
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