Golf Wars: PGA Tour Counter LIV with increased wallet, players are determined to participate in 20 major tournaments

ATLANTA (AP) — Tuesday’s PGA Tour was the boldest response ever to the rival Saudi-funded league, inviting top players to participate in a program of 20 tournaments that will challenge each other up to 17 times.

The program includes four majors and includes a $20 million purse, excluding the smallest field at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua earlier in the year.

Many of the major tournaments have already taken place – the Genesis Invitational on the Riviera, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial on Bay Hill; Kapalua and match play; three FedEx Cup playoffs; four majors and the Players Championship.

The four tournaments that will be “elevated events” have yet to be announced. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan hopes to announce it in the next two months.

Players are also required to play in three regular PGA Tour tournaments.

The change comes in the form of a few key challenges that started at JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland last month, culminating in a players-only battle, with a top 23 finish in the BMW Championship last week.

Players joining next year will be determined according to the revised Player Influence Programme. During the tour, it was rumored that 20 people will come this year from the PIP program and another roster that includes the new standards.

The tour moves away from a system that focuses on Q ratings and social media, and moves towards more television, media mention, and fan awareness.

The PIP bonus pool will increase from $50 million to $100 million next year and the top player will receive a $15 million bonus.

The announcement was made at the end-of-season Tour Championship, where the winner of the FedEx Cup received $18 million. The LIV Golf lineup is expected to announce a new PGA Tour player group that will likely feature up to six players.