Within the face of elevated competitors from LIV Golf and the PGA TOUR, the DP World Tour, previously referred to as the European Tour, has introduced a lot of vital adjustments to the way in which it rewards its members for the approaching season, with an elevated bonus pool of $6m being shared among the many high eight gamers on its finish of season rating and the introduction of a brand new programme that can assure minimal earnings. There may also be a brand new three-week mid-summer break after the Open Championship, which was requested for by the gamers’ committee and authorized by the Tour.
Beginning subsequent month, the ‘Earnings Assurance Programme’ will assure a minimal revenue of $150,000 to gamers who compete in 15 or extra occasions in a season. The cash is not going to come on high of earnings however be paid out to gamers in classes 1-17 who fail to achieve that stage. Thus, a participant who earns $125,000 in prize cash in a season might be awarded an additional $25,000 to take their total revenue to $150,000. Gamers who fall exterior of those classes (18-20) might be awarded $1,500 in the event that they miss the lower at an occasion, guaranteeing that a number of the price of entry charges, journey and lodging are met in the event that they fail to earn any prize cash.
Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s Chief Govt, mentioned the file prize fund, elevated bonus pool and Earnings Assurance Programme have been made attainable by the Tour’s three way partnership partnership with the PGA TOUR, which introduced an identical assured earnings programme in June.
He mentioned: “For us to have the ability to supply our members file prize funds and enhanced incomes alternatives is very large, notably when international economies are nonetheless feeling the results of the pandemic and with the brand new problem of rising inflation considerably placing stress on prices in all aspects of our enterprise. Our total prize fund for the 2023 season represents $50 million greater than 2021, and in addition underlines the energy of our partnership with the PGA TOUR, who’re working with us to drive income and a long-term development plan.”
He added: “One of many many advantages we’ve got been in a position to introduce due to this partnership is the brand new Earnings Assurance Programme, much like what they have already got on the PGA TOUR. I’ve at all times believed that it’s an unimaginable accomplishment for any skilled golfer to easily achieve their taking part in rights on the DP World Tour and this new initiative recognises and rewards that achievement.
“Though we’ll by no means lose the magic of the meritocracy and purity of a performance-based construction, this now provides certainty of revenue to these gamers who’ve made it to the top of the skilled recreation in Europe. Alongside the John Jacobs Bursary for the highest 5 gamers who graduate to the DP World Tour from the Problem Tour, it’s going to present safety and a robust platform for rising gamers specifically as they arrive by the worldwide pathways we’ve got created.”
Included within the DP World Tour’s file prize fund of $144.2million is a rise within the match prize funds for the primary 4 Rolex Sequence occasions of 2023. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Dubai Desert Traditional, Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship all transfer from $8m in 2022 to $9m subsequent 12 months, forward of the $10m season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The DP World Tour’s international schedule begins with on November 24, 2022, with a double header – the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane and the Joburg Open in South Africa. The previous is one in every of two tournaments in Australia on the DP World Tour schedule as a part of the Strategic Alliance with the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, whereas the latter is one in every of six occasions co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour, additionally as a part of a strategic alliance.
4 new tournaments in Asia are additionally included on the 2023 schedule, with the Singapore Traditional (February 9-12) and Thailand Traditional (February 16-19) going down in consecutive weeks, adopted by the Tour’s first journey to Japan for the ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP (April 20-23) and a return to Korea for the primary time since 2013 (April 27-30).
In Europe, there are dates adjustments for a number of tournaments, together with the Horizon Irish Open transferring to September 7-10, whereas the Italian Open will happen from Might 4-7 forward of venue Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership internet hosting the 2023 Ryder Cup from September 29 – October 1.
There’s additionally a brand new three-week summer season break within the schedule following the 151st Open Championship and Barracuda Championship (each July 20-23) which has been launched following participant suggestions. Which means that there might be no tournaments performed between July 24 and August 17, when the ISPS Handa World Invitational begins at Galgorm Fortress in Eire.
