‘Belief’ drives Tiger for the Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods will make his first start at the Hero World Challenge this year after withdrawing from the 2023 Masters. The Golf Today crew talks about what to expect from him.

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According to a leaked memo, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods profit greatly from the 2023 PGA Tour Player Impact Program.

Now that the top 20 list is public, $100 million has been awarded.

Golfer Nate Lashley, who was upset that the PGA Tour had spent $100 million on 20 players through the Player Impact Program (PIP), leaked the program’s results on Instagram, labeling the idea as “a little ridiculous.” Even though there should be more openness surrounding the PIP and its distribution, its purpose is to honor some of the biggest names in golf for their contributions to PGA Tour events all year long in addition to their on-course exploits.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the big winners at the end of the 2022–2023 season. This time, they traded places, with McIlroy taking first place and winning $15 million, and Woods coming in second place and winning $10 million.

Naturally, McIlroy has led the golf world in both his play (two victories, two runner-up spots, and two third-place finishes in 2023) and his leadership on the PGA Tour. McIlroy, who recently stepped down as chairman of the Player Advisory Council, has been vocal about LIV Golf in 2022, despite the fact that the Tour has a framework agreement in place with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which provides funding for the competitor league.

Compared to McIlroy, Woods has not received as much attention. He had to withdraw on the weekend prior to having additional leg surgery after playing in the first round of 2023 and making the cut at the Masters. This coming week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas is anticipated to be his first competitive event since Augusta National.

According to Golf.com, the Player Impact Program formula consists of a rather hazy combination of internet searches, earned media (unique articles), TV sponsor exposure, general public awareness, and golf fan awareness. Here is a list of the golfers who earned at least $2 million this year and placed in the top 20 of the program.

The PIP is supposedly the PGA Tour’s method of ensuring that its most well-liked players—those who grab viewers’ attention on TV and draw spectators to events—get paid handsomely regardless of how well they perform in the real competitions. Even though that benefits these 20 players, not everyone is happy about it.

In response to the memo leak, Lashley posed the question, “How many golf fans truly know what the PIP on the PGA Tour is? ” on his Instagram post. Would be interested in knowing if golfers or PGA fans believe that the $100 million was well-spent. The PGA Tour has between 150 and 200 members, and they recently spent $100 million on 20 players. It seems a little absurd. It’s time for the PGA Tour to have new leaders. The other players on the PGA Tour are getting a serious kick in the face from this.”

Someone who doesn’t place in the top 20 takes an understandable stance, but it also misses the point of the PIP. It makes sense that the PGA Tour found a way to reward its top players with some guaranteed money of their own, but there should definitely be more clarity surrounding it given the list of qualifying factors is still unclear and the growing threat of LIV.