If PGA Tour execs who lose their playing cards cannot make a lot out of sponsor’s exemptions and Monday Qualifying tournaments, these are three competing choices.
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The finish is nigh for a lot of PGA Tour gamers. Not actually The End, capital T capital E. But the top of 2023 is closing in. Only three tournaments stay and the chase for ending within the prime 125 is tight. There’s that competitors, after which one other one just to get into these tournaments.
This is high-stakes stuff, and the fellows are taking it critically. (You can guess there might be some scoffing at Michael Block’s sponsor’s exemption into the ultimate race of this circuit, on the RSM Classic.) Players on the surface wanting in making an attempt to maintain their Tour membership will study their destiny quickly sufficient. Either they held on or they didn’t, and so they’ll must work their approach again to the juicy purses and the great life a technique or one other.
But instantly these gamers have choices. There’s the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf. Each has its perks and every comes with distinctive dangers. But for the primary time ever, all of them really feel accessible to those that drop off from the PGA Tour.
But which place is correct for which participant? Players like Harry Higgs, Aaron Wise and Adam Long would earn conditional Tour standing if the season ended right now. But somebody like Doc Redman wouldn’t. Lanto Griffin, Grayson Murray, Dylan Frittelli, Jason Dufner — all these names must determine how they need to transfer ahead. There’s the Monday Qualifying route, or the fixed pursuit of sponsor’s exemptions, however neither suggest a lot consistency.
Instead of that, there are the opposite choices, one in all which was introduced this week when the DP World Tour mentioned gamers who end 126th via 2 hundredth within the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup can acquire membership (if they need it) on the tour performed predominantly abroad. That’s an enormous alternative — if somebody needs to take it. We think about all of it beneath.
If you’re a Tour participant who just lost their card… the place should you go subsequent?
Korn Ferry Tour
Pros: The KFT is completely the PGA Tour minor league. Double-A Golf, if you will. And that’s an important factor to be. The gamers are excellent, and there are numerous of them, just like the large present. The host programs are unfold out throughout America and are related in nature to what you might discover on the PGA Tour. There’s consolation there. For the American golfer, born and raised on parkland programs largely performed at sea degree, that is the golf you know.
The prime 30 gamers from the Korn Ferry Tour graduate to the PGA Tour, which implies a wholesome sliver of the gamers competing in a full KFT schedule transfer up. The healthiest sliver, if we’re evaluating excursions right here. Being twenty ninth finest out there may be lots ok.
Cons: BUT, it’s a bit extra cutthroat. The cash is worse, comparatively. The typical Korn Ferry Tour purse in 2024 might be $1,000,000. It’s honest to count on that quantity to extend sooner or later, however for now winner’s checks come out to $180,000. A barely totally different success story of beating, say, 145 different excellent execs — ending tenth — brings in one thing round $25,000. There is extra money to be discovered elsewhere. And commencement, if it occurs, doesn’t essentially imply enjoying each PGA Tour occasion you need. KFT grads truly get slotted behind DP World Tour grads on the precedence listing.
Risk: Very little. Perhaps the most important threat shouldn’t be taking a threat? Staying within the consolation zone. Another theoretical threat exists in a single looming side of all golf careers: If 2024 is one of the best golf season of your life, the KFT is the least-profitable place (on this train) to play that unbelievable golf.
DP World Tour
Pros: You will journey the world like by no means earlier than. This might not be as fascinating to skilled golfers — a lot of whom think about journey a nagging a part of the gig — as it could appear for the amateurs studying this story. But this type of journey is wildly totally different. The DP World Tour brings you from Dubai to Bahrain to Kenya to South Africa, and that’s just January and February. You’d go to 5 totally different continents and 22 totally different nations over the course of the season. Think of what you’d study. Think of the meals you’d discover. Think of the golf programs you’d play! The recollections you’d make.
Comparatively, the cash is fairly good. The typical DP World Tour purse fluctuates within the $1.5 to $2.5 million vary. In different phrases, not less than twice the purses of the Korn Ferry Tour. Playing your finest golf might be extra worthwhile right here.
Cons: Only 5 gamers from this newly created class can play in a weekly DP World Tour occasion, however for this observe we’re assuming you can nonetheless put collectively a fascinating schedule. Regardless, the trail to success right here is tougher. KnowledgeGolf, the business’s main analytics web site, would inform you that greater than a dozen DP World Tour occasions boast fields more durable to beat than the strongest KFT discipline. The degree of golf goes to be larger and the number of programs wider. Does that scare you? Only 10 gamers graduate from the DP World Tour to the PGA Tour within the present setup. The tenth qualifier at this actual second: Marcel Siem, ranked No. 154 on the planet by KnowledgeGolf. Can you beat Marcel Siem in a season-long competitors?
Also, you’re (most likely) a good distance from house. Taking per week off to journey again for Mom’s birthday (for Americans, not less than) means flying eight to 10 to 14 hours, one-way. You’ll make the same commute when you head again out on tour. Keeping a relationship sturdy and regular can be examined in a significant approach. But for a golfer who is single? The thoughts wanders…
Risk: Life would change in a very avoidable approach. Are you prepared for that? Does somebody (your associate) need to be a part of you alongside the best way? Maybe that’ll consolation issues. Any monetary threat is actually taken off the desk, too, because of the DP World Tour’s new Earnings Assurance Program, which ensures those that play 15 occasions a minimal “salary” of $150,000. Expenses can pile up on the street, however $150,000 is usually the quantity it takes to fund a full season of top-level professional golf. You’re enjoying golf with home cash!
LIV Golf
Pros: Have you heard in regards to the cash? You certain have. LIV Golf guarantees tens of millions upon tens of millions. BIG cash. Money larger than most mavens on this dilemma have ever performed for. And one factor we’ve realized within the final 18 months is that the majority execs play with cash prime of thoughts.
Once you’re on a staff, you’re in. You’ve bought 14 occasions, none of which battle with the foremost championships. You can qualify for the U.S. and British Opens just like hundreds of others will attempt to and LIV Golf would embrace it.
Cons: Where the cash comes from is the ethical debate many execs have pressured themselves to have over the past 18 months. That’s Saudi Arabia, which brings with it a laundry listing of questions each participant within the league faces at one level or one other. Those questions aren’t as difficult as they have been 18 months in the past, however they exist.
Also, your schedule is ready. Have an essential wedding ceremony you can’t miss that conflicts with LIV Australia? Sorry, however you signed up for all 14 occasions, no excuses. Send a pleasant card.
Risk: At this level, there isn’t as a lot as there was, when defectors have been being suspended. Reputation-wise, there’s a little bit of a PR battle that LIV Golf and its backers proceed to work via. Associating your golf with them is voluntary. Some folks discover that act simpler than others.
The future of professional golf continues to be being negotiated, and your path to the highest of it doesn’t actually run via LIV Golf. That’s a much bigger threat for some than it’s for others. There aren’t any apparent methods to qualify for majors through LIV Golf. The Harold Varners of the world are going to have to try this the arduous approach, not less than proper now. Varner himself is enriched by the cash and what he can do with it. He’s not alone. Scott Vincent made $4.6 million in 2023 enjoying some extremely nameless golf. His two full seasons on the DP World Tour resulted in just beneath $360,000.
What’s our suggestion?
Go East, younger man! If you could make it work, tackle the DP World Tour for all it gives. There’s a transparent path again to the PGA Tour by taking a full season on the DP World Tour. Play nicely sufficient and you’ll have deserved it. Don’t fairly play nicely sufficient, you can attempt the KFT subsequent. Or you can change into a DP World-lifer! The home cash of the Earnings Assurance Program should be releasing. The country-hopping might be a priceless, unforgettable journey. And if it leads you again to the place you have been, you’ll be higher due to this golfy examine overseas program. So lengthy as you can clarify the choice to family and friends!
Which route would you take? The creator welcomes your feedback, considerations, and another notes at sean.zak@golf.com.
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