19th Hole

Does this GolfWRX member have brilliant ideas to improve the PGA Tour, or is he WAY off base?

Published

8 years ago

Apr 17, 2018

In a thread boldly titled “The traditional PGA Tour model of professional golf is dead. Time for change,” GolfWRX member mjen43 says owing to decline in corporate investment in the PGA Tour (is this fake news?), the Tour needs to radically overhaul its business model.

If you’re of the opinion that the shark has been thoroughly jumped, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

He writes

“I think we are close to seeing a group of privately wealthy billionaires establish a golf league, similar to the likes of the NBA, NHL, NFL. This league would pit teams of golfers against each other and allow them to compete, as teams, for a world championship. Players would be drafted to each team and provided with playing contracts, just like other sports leagues. Each team would be able to construct a championship caliber venue in every major city and host weekly tournaments.”

Wait? What? Why? Forgetting about the specifics of what this imagined league would entail, what’s he seeing in the tea leaves to suggest a billionaire cabal is poised to start a golf league?

Mjen43 thinks the resultant product will be better for fans than the current PGA Tour model.

“1. Every city would be able to see the worlds best play. Since players would be under contract and the team would play a regulated schedule, fans everywhere would have an opportunity to see the best perform.

“2. No name anonymous tour drones would suddenly bring value to the competition. As it stands now, nobody has any personal investment in seeing these types play/compete. Make them apart of a team though, and add in some fan/location based tribalism, and all of a sudden you care how about how your 32 year old anonymous tour pro rookie is performing.

“3. Cool jerseys. How awesome would it be to be able to buy, say, a Rickie Fowler #69 jersey from your local pro shop if you’re a fan of the Bakers Bay Unplayable Lies and get belligerently drunk with it on at your local sports bar?”

From the players’ perspective, mjen believes players will be seduced by guaranteed team contracts and the teams bearing the cost of trainers, caddies, coaches, etc.

Is this madness or brilliance? Let’s see what his GolfWRX members have to say.

DavePelz4 says

“Lots of points for creativity and plating but the taste is a bit short.”

Keads writes

“I’d be the first sign up for season tickets. As I’m sure the rest of my PNW members would echo, it is brutal how little exposure we get to the games best. One of the most beautiful cities in America and have no regular stop.”

Hawkeye77 says

“Fantasy land – and not the first time almost those exact suggestions have been made on here, so not sure if recycled or borrowed, but the premise is incorrect and the “solutions” just plain silly – golf is still an individual sport and there is no significant movement to “team” competitions. NCAA is a minor blip on the radar screen for 99% of the viewing public, including people that watch golf and the President’s Cup is hardly driving any trend bus. New Orleans? Who cares. Ryder Cup is unique. Local golf team? LOL. And high school golf as support for your “argument” or a “model” for team golf as you describe? You can’t be serious about that. Great high school golfers and college golfers aren’t participating like they are on the basketball team. Billionaires who earned their money didn’t make it being stupid.”

15th Club says

“Thanks to Tim Finchem’s skills as a Washington lobbyist, the current PGA tour has a retirement fund with a highly complicated structure and a fabulously favorable federal tax treatment. Absolutely nobody in Tour golf wants to rock that boat. Which is good because a Pro Golf League with teams and jerseys and a draft is the most fantastically bad idea I have ever heard in connection with the game.”

These are just a few of the initial replies to the original poster’s suggestion. Not surprisingly, he responds to many of the replies, and a robust debate has ensued. Get your popcorn!

The interesting question, really, isn’t whether you accept or reject mjen’s proposal outright, but how the PGA Tour’s product can be improved. GolfWRX members are keen to weigh in on this as well.

You’ll want to check out this thread to see what the forum faithful are saying. Let us know what you think about this stroke of genius/lunacy and potential improvements to the Tour as we know it.

19th Hole

How much each player won at the 2026 Masters

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Rory McIlroy made it two wins in as many years at Augusta National, seeing off the challengers on a dramatic Sunday to slip on the green jacket once again. The victory earned Rory a whopping payday of $4.5 million, with Scottie Scheffler his closest challenger earning $2.43 million for his sole runner-up finish.

With a total prize purse of $22.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 Masters tournament.

For players that did not make the cut, they still earned $25k for their efforts at the year’s opening major.

1: Rory McIlroy, $4.5 million
2: Scottie Scheffler, $2.43 million
T3: Tyrrell Hatton, $1.08 million
T3: Russell Henley, $1.08 million
T3: Justin Rose, $1.08 million
T3: Cameron Young, $1.08 million
T7: Collin Morikawa, $725,625
T7: Sam Burns, $725,625
T9: Xander Schauffele, $630,00
T9: Max Homa, $630,00
11: Jake Knapp, $562,500
T12: Jordan Spieth, $427,500
T12: Brooks Koepka, $427,500
T12: Hideki Matsuyama, $427,500
T12: Patrick Reed, $427,500
T12: Patrick Cantlay, $427,500
T12: Jason Day, $427,500
T18: Viktor Hovland, $315,000
T18: Maverick McNealy, $315,000
T18: Matt Fitzpatrick, $315,000
T21: Keegan Bradley, $252,000
T21: Ludvig Aberg, $252,000
T21: Wyndham Clark, $252,000
T24: Matt McCarty, $182,083
T24: Adam Scott, $182,083
T24: Sam Stevens, $182,083
T24: Chris Gotterup, $182,083
T24: Michael Brennan, $182,083
T24: Brian Campbell, $182,083
T30: Alex Noren, $146,250
T30: Harris English, $146,250
T30: Shane Lowry, $146,250
T33: Gary Woodland, $121,500
T33: Dustin Johnson, $121,500
T33: Brian Harman, $121,500
T33: Tommy Fleetwood, $121,500
T33: Ben Griffin, $121,500
T38: Jon Rahm, $105,750
T38: Ryan Gerard, $101,250
T38: Haotong Li, $96,750
T41: Justin Thomas, $92,250
T41: Sepp Straka, $87,750
T41: Jacob Bridgeman, $83,250
T41: Kristoffer Reitan, $78,750
T41: Nick Taylor, $74,250
46: Sungjae Im, $69,750
47: Si Woo Kim, $65,250
48: Aaron Rai, $61,650
T49: Corey Conners, $57,600
T49: Marco Penge, $57,600
51: Kurt Kitayama, $55,250
52: Sergio Garcia, $54,000
53: Rasmus Hojgaard, $52,650
54: Charl Schwartzel, $51,300

19th Hole

CBS’s Sunday Masters coverage slammed by golf fans

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

While Sunday was a dramatic day at the Masters, many golf fans were left feeling frustrated by the CBS final round coverage.

There were plenty of moments that golf fans took to social media to air their frustrations on Sunday over, including a lack of shots being shown throughout the day, being behind the live action, confusion over the approach shots of the final group on 18, and providing an angle for the winning putt where the cup couldn’t be seen.

Here’s a look at some of the criticisms that were directed at the CBS coverage throughout the day on X:

This has been a brutal broadcast for CBS. When the folks from Augusta sit down with them this year, you can bet they’ll talk about this 15 seconds where we have no idea where Rory’s ball went, and Dottie moans. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/ak3mkpIN7V

— Ryan (@PossiblyRy) April 12, 2026

It’s rare criticism coming in for CBS, who are usually heavily praised for their Masters coverage each year.

19th Hole

The surprise club Tommy Fleetwood says is key to his Masters chances

Published

1 month ago

Apr 7, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Tommy Fleetwood goes in search for the first major victory of his career again this week, with the Englishman proving to be a popular pick at Augusta National.

Fleetwood’s best showing at Augusta came back in 2024 where he finished T3, and while speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, the 35-year-old emphasized the importance of his 9-wood in his pursuit of the green jacket.

Speaking on Tuesday to media, Fleetwood said:

“It’s a great 9-wood golf course. I think it’s always been — I can’t remember when I first put like a 9-wood in or a high lofted club, but it’s a perfect like 9-wood golf course. I’ve had that in the bag for a few years.”

The Englishman continued, revealing that his strategy for the week won’t just be to hit driver off the tee as much as possible:

“Yeah, it’s funny really because I know Augusta is probably associated with being fairly forgiving off the tee in a way, so you think you can whale around driver a little bit. But I don’t necessarily think that’s always the play for me. I think there’s holes that set up really well where I can draw it with the mini driver if I’m feeling less comfortable with the driver and things like that.”

That strategy he believes will make his TaylorMade Qi10 9-wood extra critical this week in Georgia:

“The biggest thing is the 9-wood for me. If I can put myself in position on the par-5s or the 4th long par-3, like it — for me, I can’t really hit that high 4-iron, so 9-wood helps me a lot.”