PGA Tour spoils players with slew of luxuries, perks for 2024

Chalk one up for the john foyer.

Three months after Jon Rahm publicly lamented the dearth of restrooms at PGA Tour venues, the Tour introduced it’s making strikes to rectify the scarcity. In a Nov. 10 memo to players — as reported and shared by Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal — the Tour mentioned that starting subsequent season it’ll require tournaments to supply “a minimum of four relief stations per nine holes,” for a complete of eight throughout 18 holes. The mandate doesn’t fairly fulfill Rahm’s request for “a freaking Porta-Potty on every hole,” however nonetheless, it’s nothing to pooh-pooh.

The new perks for 2024 don’t finish there. In the word to players, Eric Baldwin, the Tour’s vp of match enterprise and fan engagement, detailed a slew of “key player, player spouse/family and caddie enhancements we are requiring all PGA Tour events to implement for the upcoming season” with the mission of “delivering a world-class experience commensurate with a PGA Tour event.” Among the enhancements:

—Healthier eating choices that may assist players “maximize their performance and recovery.” (Presumably Phil Mickelson’s wellness espresso is not going to be among the many new choices.)

—”More detailed” caddie eating program. This ought to go a good distance with loopers, who traditionally have felt underappreciated by the Tour. Underfed, too.

—Cold plunge tubs at each Tour cease. For the uninitiated, chilly plunges are basically ice baths that assist athletes get well extra shortly by reversing lactic acid buildup. Noted plungers on Tour embody Rahm and Brian Harman. At the Ryder Cup earlier this yr, Rory McIIroy took a chilly plunge to assist him cool off after a heated confrontation with U.S. caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay.

—Complimentary courtesy automotive program throughout match week or different permitted program that gives transportation.

—Players’ households may even profit in 2024, with non-public restrooms out there to them on the course, alongside with water and dry snacks.

But wait, there’s extra! For players who qualify for the signature and FedEx Cup Playoffs occasions, one other suite of advantages await, together with:   

—“On-site and convenient parking options” for players and their assist groups

—Access to participant eating for players’ assist groups (excluding caddies)

—Complimentary dry cleansing or laundry companies for players and caddies

—Complimentary image yardage ebook with the choice for a complimentary commonplace ebook, if most well-liked, for each players and caddies

If it appears like a very good time to be a PGA Tour participant, that’s as a result of it’s, and never simply because of the free laundry. With the menace of LIV Golf looming giant over Ponte Vedra, Tour players are starting to benefit from the rewards that Phil Mickelson will let you know the players have lengthy been due.      

First got here the Player Impact Program, which doles out $100 million to the 20 golfers who drive essentially the most engagement every season. Then got here bigger purses — a lot bigger purses. The mixed payouts for the 13 signature occasions in 2023 was $315 million; that’s almost a 50% bump from the ’22 purses for those self same occasions. And now comes information of the most recent wave of enhancements, from bathrooms to transportation.

When it involves perks in professional golf, the arms race is absolutely on.

Alan Bastable

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s govt editor, Bastable is accountable for the editorial route and voice of one of the sport’s most revered and extremely trafficked information and repair websites. He wears many hats — enhancing, writing, ideating, growing, daydreaming of sooner or later breaking 80 — and feels privileged to work with such an insanely proficient and hardworking group of writers, editors and producers. Before grabbing the reins at GOLF.com, he was the options editor at GOLF Magazine. A graduate of the University of Richmond and the Columbia School of Journalism, he lives in New Jersey with his spouse and foursome of children.