PGA, Players Purses Swell To $10 Million In '14

 

The PGA Tour and PGA of America announced new joint initiatives Wednesday, perhaps finally putting to rest the apparent confusion of Vijay's attorney and the endless list of publications that still confuse the two organizations. Oh, and they are raising purses for 2014 that will force the Masters and USGA to give players a bit more from their petty cash stashes.

 For Immediate Release:
SEA ISLAND, GA (November 6, 2013) – PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and PGA of America President Ted Bishop today announced a significant expansion in cooperative initiatives that benefit the membership of both organizations and help grow the game of golf.

Among them, Bishop said, is The PGA of America’s intention to increase the PGA Championship’s purse to $10 million, which will equal that of THE PLAYERS Championship as the highest in professional golf. This represents a $2 million increase over last season’s PGA Championship, while Finchem said THE PLAYERS’ purse will increase by $500,000 over 2013. In addition, the PGA TOUR will increase its longstanding support of the PGA Professional National Championship and various PGA Section Championships.

Appearing at a press conference during The McGladrey Classic at Sea Island Resort, Finchem and Bishop outlined a program aimed at highlighting the vital role of PGA of America Professionals in teaching and growing the game of golf:

· A PR campaign that will include PSAs during PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Web.com Tour telecasts; exposure on PGATOUR.COM; and features on Sirius/XM Radio’s PGA TOUR channel, and will focus on the efforts of PGA professionals in teaching and growing the game of golf; Because we know how well those work!

· A weekly segment on “Inside the PGA TOUR” shown on Golf Channel, featuring the host PGA Professional’s knowledge of the competitive aspects of the tournament course;

· PGA Professional presence at selected PGA TOUR events, commencing in 2014 with THE PLAYERS, the three domestic World Golf Championships, The Barclays, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, the Northern Trust Open and The Presidents Cup, in which PGA Professionals will interact with fans in various ways, such as providing mini lessons and distributing information about golf instruction.

“We have always believed that working together with The PGA of America enhances efforts to grow the game and benefits the membership of both organizations,” Finchem said. “Today’s announcement reflects what regular communication between our organizations can accomplish, and we look forward to continuing discussions with Ted and The PGA of America regarding further opportunities.”

“The relationship between The PGA of America and the PGA TOUR has never been stronger for a variety of reasons,” said Bishop, 38th president of The PGA of America. “There have been a series of cooperative efforts and today’s announcement is a further reflection that the essence of our relationship has been our ability to jointly do what is best for golf and our respective memberships. After all, PGA TOUR players are also members of The PGA of America.”

More interesting in this is the obvious bond built out of the PGA and PGA Tour's mutual disdain for the anchoring ban dating back to last winter. And what better way to annoy the USGA by asking them to give up a few more million dollars to players instead of to a hedge fund manager. The U.S. Open and Masters purses in 2013 were $8 million each.

Snedeker Injures Knee in China

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) Brandt Snedeker injured his left leg when he lost his balance and landed awkwardly when he hopped off a Segway in China.

Snedeker was at a corporate outing at Sheshan International on Monday when he injured himself. He immediately withdrew from the Australian PGA Championship and returned home to Nashville. Doctors say he bruised his left tibia and strained the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Snedeker says surgery will not be required. He says his injuries could heal in a couple of weeks, or take as much as two months. He is scheduled to play the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in California on Dec. 5-8, and the Franklin Templeton Shootout a week later in Florida.

Snedeker missed six weeks earlier this year when he cracked a rib.

Mickelson to Start Next Year in the Middle East

 

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Phil Mickelson is starting his 2014 schedule in the desert - not California, but Abu Dhabi.

Organizers said Tuesday that Mickelson will play in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Jan. 16-19, the same week as the Humana Challenge. Mickelson is expected to make his first PGA Tour appearance of 2014 a week later at Torrey Pines, not far from where he lives.

It will be the first time since 2011 that Mickelson plays in Abu Dhabi. Rory McIlroy and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose also are playing the event.

Abu Dhabi is the first of three straight Europe Tour events in the United Arab Emirates. Tiger Woods has played Abu Dhabi the last two years. This time, he is going to Dubai to help celebrate its 25th anniversary.