Ryder Cup player payout, PGA Tour’s biggest change, Tour-PIF news: Tour Confidential

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss potential Ryder Cup player salaries, the PGA Tour’s biggest proposed change, the latest PGA Tour-PIF developments and more.

Pending approval by the PGA Tournament Policy Board, big changes are coming to the tournament regarding membership, field size, pace of play, Monday qualifiers and more. You can read about the changes proposed here (and some burning question here), but what is your opinion on the most significant development and are you in favor of it?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The biggest news should be that the number of full-status players will drop from 125 to 100. In short, it will make securing a PGA Tour card a little more special and strengthen that core group of members, but in at the same time it’s not like guys outside of this line won’t start anywhere. Far from it. I don’t mind the harsh nature.

Josh Sens, senior writer, (@joshsens): This reduced number of full-time employees is obviously the first to jump. But the shortening of Monday’s qualifications also caught my eye. At first glance, it seems like an unfortunate change, since who doesn’t love a Cinderella story of an unknown who cracks a tournament at the last minute and goes on to win? Thing is, data shows that stories like this almost never happen, with most Monday qualifiers ending up missing the cut or being non-factors. Bottom line: reality trumps romance. In the end, it seems like a reasonable change.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Yes, no doubt shortening the full status number is changing the title; this kind of reduction will be a big deal for the vast majority of players who have to scrape by and eke out a living from season to season. As a logical change, reducing field sizes makes a lot of sense. Sure, we’ll miss a few Cinderella winners, but finishing the rounds before dark should be a priority. It’s strange that almost three out of every 10 rounds this season go to the next day – that’s not good for either the players or the fans. Mostly, though, I found myself unaffected by these changes, none of which will make the tour’s “product” significantly more compelling. The tournament and players should be laser-focused on how to improve the TV viewing experience, starting with sinking some of the tournament’s increased investment into fewer commercial breaks.

According to a report from Golf weekplayers and captains from the 2024 Presidents Cup were allowed to do what they wanted with their $250,000 salary they received for playing in the event (in previous years, players were allowed to use those amounts to donate to charity according to their choice). Golf week it is reported that next year’s Ryder Cup salary could be a similar format to the Presidents Cup. This news comes after the recent uproar over a massive rise in Ryder Cup ticket prices. With all this information in mind, is it time to actually pay players?

Berhow: I have to look back on my previous stance here, but I’m pretty sure I was against paying players and thought it wasn’t too much to ask millionaires to represent their country once every two years. But something about rising Ryder Cup ticket prices in one country (Bethpage) that has long been praised and prided itself on its accessibility and affordability irritated me. Pay the players.

Meaning: In my ideal world, the PGA of America would use the proceeds to cover only the costs of hosting the event and give all other profits to charity. And the rosters would be limited to (already very rich) players willing to play for pride and country. But I know that’s not how capitalism works.

Bastable: Players playing for nothing may have made sense in the early days of the Ryder Cup, when teams crossed the Atlantic not by plane but by boat, but at the time they change. The event is now arguably the game’s second-biggest spectacle after the Masters, and a financial windfall – to the tune of tens of millions of dollars – for its organizing bodies. If getting paid (even in principle) is important to players, then maybe it’s time to cut them a check. Look at the Olympics, where no fewer than seven countries pay gold medalists six-figure bonuses. Here’s an idea: Ryder Cup teams could pay their players for performance. Say, $50,000 for every point earned. Make them earn it.

Amid golf’s ongoing rift, another meeting between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan was reported last week. How important is this news in the interest of concluding a deal? A little? Or too much?

Berhow: I’m bored with this. They have planes and can meet whenever they want.

Meaning: The point is, they were just trading casserole recipes. I read it on social media so it must be true. Come to think of it, maybe they should try sharing a snack. None of these other dates seem to be going anywhere

Bastable: The right. I think we’re all well past the point where only an official announcement about the PGA Tour and the PIF’s way forward together will get our attention. The fans are frustrated, tired, disappointed. Even when a deal is reached and presented, it will take a long time to re-engage those fans who have walked away over the past two years. However, I remain hopeful. There are too many smart people in the room—and the stakes are too high—to screw this up.

of The 10th installment of TNT’s The Match will not feature professional playersbut instead a collection of eight actors, comedians and athletes. Match: The Superstars Bill Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Phelps, Nate Bargatze, Ken Griffey, Jr. will attend. and Blake Griffin. The event takes place Nov. 21-22 at Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. Thoughts on the new format/composition?

Berhow: I’m going to shock myself here and say that I’m a little interested in this (at least more than the other lineups). My gripe with “The Match” has always been that it’s hard for most of these golf stars to swing that key and be entertaining. between golf swings, which is essential to good television. But having a couple of comedians (Murray, Bargatze) and characters (Sir Charles) and the inevitable amateur squirrel shots means there can be a fun unpredictability to it.

Meaning: Bill Murray is awesome. Charles Barkley can be funny. But this all sounds painfully contrived to me. Now, if you take them at all and let Nikki Glaser roast them on Comedy Central, I’d watch it.

Bastable: I’ve always felt that the A-list pros bring a sense of gravitas to The Match. Not to mention the pressure. Remember when Tom Brady looked like a 25-handicapper in the 2020 edition with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods? It was great theater! You get the sense he wouldn’t have battled so hard with Blake Griffin and Nate Bargatze instead. This next match just feels like a watered down version of the American Century.

Happy Halloween (a few days late)! What’s your favorite golf Halloween costume you’ve come across over the years?

Berhow: I’ve always been a fan of healthy Masters caddy uniformbut one of my social feeds recently showed a group of about a dozen guys—a player, a caddy, and fans in the gallery—walking around the neighborhood hitting shots like they were playing Augusta. Love the dedication.

Meaning: I actually played a twilight round after work on Halloween this year. I worked hard on the costume and appeared dressed as a golfer, but it was no use. The lift fooled no one.

Bastable: I’m still waiting for someone to figure out how to dress like the scariest thing in golf: the fizzy greens.

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