For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of The Players gets underway from TPC Sawgrass.

1. Monahan on “designated event” model

Dave Shedloski for Golf Digest…”As for the designated events, the tour is moving forward after a statistical analysis revealed that the top 10-30 players in the world compete against one another some 95 percent of the time in major championships, but less than 40 percent of the time in PGA Tour events.”

• “We’ve looked at all possible competitive models, and it was evident and perhaps obvious that whatever we do differently, we must showcase our top performers competing against one another more often,” Monahan said. “We know that designated events can resonate both with core and casual fans, evidenced by the metrics of the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Invitational last month. But designated events can’t stand on their own. You need strong, compelling full-field events to provide consistency and keep the PGA Tour top of mind week-in and week-out with storylines and breakout stars.”

2. Woods’ ex-girlfriend files suit

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”Tiger Woods’ former girlfriend, Erica Herman, has requested a South Florida court rule on the enforceability of a non-disclosure agreement.”

• “The complaint, filed Monday in Martin (Fla.) County court, claims that the NDA between the two is not enforceable by arbitration under the Sexual Harassment Act, a 2021 law that gives individuals who claim sexual assault or sexual harassment the chance to bring those claims to court and bypass NDA arbitration.”

• “In the five-page request for a jury trial, Herman alleges that a trust controlled by Woods “has taken the position in litigation that the NDA is enforceable.”

3. More FEC points for designated events

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”There are still plenty of details to be flushed out before the PGA Tour unveils exactly what the 2024 schedule and its 16 designated events look like, but there’s one piece of the complicated – and contentious – puzzle that fell into place this week.”

• “At a player-only meeting early Tuesday at TPC Sawgrass, Tour officials walked about 50 members through the new schedule, the adjusted qualification criteria and, perhaps most importantly, how FedExCup points will be adjusted for the new designated reality.”

• “Starting next year, the Tour will showcase 16 designated events that include the four majors, The Players Championship, three playoff events and eight additional tournaments that will feature limited fields (70 to 80 players) and no cuts. The winners of those “other” designated events – which will include the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial and five other tournaments that have not been announced – will receive 700 FedExCup points compared to 500 points for the winner of non-designated events.”

4. Monahan on Rory’s workload

Golfweek’s Tim Schmitt…”One of the extraordinary aspects of the World No.3’s workload over a tumultuous period in the game’s history is that he has excelled on the course, including as recently as last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, despite taking on a significant amount of responsibility off it. That’s something Monahan was quick to draw attention to.”

• “He said: “When you look back over the last 12 to 18 months, Rory sat in a board meeting for seven hours last Tuesday night and finished one shot off the lead last week. I mean, it’s extraordinary. He was in the room this morning for an hour and a half, and he was here with you all today.””

• “McIlroy was one of the leading figures in a player-only meeting held in Delaware before last year’s BMW Championship to determine a path forward for the PGA Tour amid the emergence of LIV Golf. Monahan explained that, since then, McIlroy has only grown stronger as a leader.”

• “He said: “The thing that’s been so impressive about what he’s done and having seen where we were coming out of Delaware last year to where we are now, his leadership has manifested itself in a way where he has a very good grasp on and balance on the full picture and on the entire membership, and where we were last summer to where we are now is largely a reflection on the amount of time and energy he’s put into understanding that.”

5. Rahm: Thankful for LIV (to an extent)

Mike Hall for Golf Monthly…”The Spaniard, who is preparing for this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, was asked the reason the PGA Tour was implementing the changes and his response was unequivocal. He said: “Oh, it’s LIV Golf. I mean, without a doubt. Without LIV Golf, this wouldn’t have happened. So to an extent, like I’ve said before, we should be thankful this threat has made the PGA Tour want to change things.”

• “Rahm’s comments bear similarities with ones he made last November before the Hero World Challenge. Back then, on the subject of increased purses in the PGA Tour’s designated events, he said: “I mean, I think on this side of things we should be thankful that LIV happened. I don’t know if those changes would have happened if LIV wasn’t in the picture. So to an extent, yeah, we should be thankful.”

6. JT on LIV comparisons

Dave Shedloski for Golf Digest…”Of course, there are some very key differences both Norman and many of the LIV players failed to acknowledge when they were getting their takes off. One being that the reported 70-80-man fields are nearly double the size of of LIV events, and that said fields will be just a touch stronger on the PGA Tour. But don’t take our word for it, take the word of Justin Thomas, who was asked about Norman’s tweet, and the announced changes to the designated events, on Tuesday at the tour’s flagship event, the Players Championship.”

• “Well, we have an astronomically higher amount of quality players than they do in their events,” said Thomas, laughing. “But, no, it’s very—I think all of us have not been shy to say it that, you know, this is stuff that we’ve been trying to do and have worked on. Obviously got sped up a crazy amount due to what was going on in the outside.”

7. Harrington into World Golf HOF

Todd Kelly for Golfweek: “Padraig Harrington, Tom Weiskopf, Sandra Palmer, Johnny Farrell and Beverly Hanson will join the remaining seven of the 13 LPGA Founders in the World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024, it was announced on Wednesday.”

• Harrington has 21 victories worldwide, including three majors. He was a part of six Ryder Cup teams and he was the captain of the 2020 European squad.

• “This is very exciting, obviously a huge honor,” said Harrington. “It’s somewhat humbling. At this stage of my life, it gives me some validation to what I’ve done in golf. Brings back a flood of memories. This is a deep-down satisfaction, and I’m very proud to be included with the players before me. Seeing your name beside the names that I’ve looked up to as a boy and young golfer, it’s very nice. Everybody on the ballot deserves to be there. It’s unfortunate that everyone can’t be in, but it’s great to be included in the Class of 2024.”

8. Fitz not open to LIV rebels return

Lewis Fraser for Bunkered…”Matt Fitzpatrick has weighed in on the issue of whether players who play on the LIV Golf League should be allowed to make their way back to the PGA Tour.

• Speaking to Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir, Fitzpatrick explained why he believes LIV players shouldn’t be allowed back to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour.

• “My personal view is that you can’t have your cake and eat it,” the 28-year-old said.

• “I would not let people come back if they’ve gone to LIV. I just wouldn’t. I think that’s just incredibly unfair for the PGA Tour to do that. I’d be staggered if they did allow them, I think if you spoke to Tiger Woods he would have the same stance.

• “I don’t know the stance other guys would have, but you’ve left a tour you’ve been on here where you’ve done so well and now you’ve left for something better, but it’s not always greener.”

9. Photos from The Players

• Check out all of our galleries from the PGA Tour’s Flagship event!