Ryder Cup participant pay, greatest PGA Tour change, Tour-PIF information: Tour Confidential

Examine in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular matters within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we focus on potential Ryder Cup participant stipends, the most important proposed PGA Tour change, the most recent PGA Tour-PIF developments and extra.

Pending approval by the PGA Tour Coverage Board, huge modifications are coming to the Tour relating to membership, area sizes, tempo of play, Monday qualifiers and extra. You’ll be able to learn concerning the proposed modifications right here (and a few burning questions right here), however what’s your tackle probably the most vital growth, and are you in favor of it?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The most important information must be that the variety of full-status gamers will drop from 125 to 100. Briefly, it can make it somewhat extra particular to safe a PGA Tour card and strengthen that core group of members, however on the identical time it’s not like the fellows simply exterior that line gained’t get any begins wherever. Removed from it. I don’t thoughts the cutthroat nature.

Josh Sens, senior author, (@joshsens): That lowered variety of full-timers is certainly the one which jumps out first. However reducing again on Monday qualifiers additionally caught my eye. At first blush, it looks like an unlucky change, since who doesn’t love the Cinderella story of some unknown squeaking right into a match on the final minute and occurring to win? Factor is, the document reveals that tales of that sort nearly by no means occur, that the majority Monday qualifiers wind up lacking the reduce or being non-factors. Backside line: actuality trumps romance. In the long run, it looks like a smart change.

Alan Bastable, government editor (@alan_bastable): Yeah, little doubt the trimming of the full-status quantity is the headliner change; that form of discount goes to be a giant deal to the overwhelming majority of gamers who need to scratch and claw for his or her livelihoods from season to season. By way of a logical change, shrinking area sizes makes a whole lot of sense. Positive, we’ll lose out on a couple of Cinderella winners, however getting rounds accomplished earlier than darkish needs to be a precedence. It’s wild that just about three out of each 10 rounds this season spilled into the next day — that’s not good both for gamers or followers. Largely, although, I discovered myself unmoved by these tweaks, none of which can make the Tour “product” considerably extra compelling. The Tour and gamers needs to be laser-focused on methods to enhance the TV viewing expertise, beginning with sinking a few of that surge in Tour funding into fewer business interruptions.

Based on a report from Golfweek, gamers and captains from the 2024 Presidents Cup had been allowed to do what they happy with their $250,000 stipend they acquired for taking part in within the occasion (in earlier years, gamers had been allowed to make use of these sums to donate to charities of their selection). Golfweek reported subsequent 12 months’s Ryder Cup stipend might be an identical format to the Presidents Cup. This information comes after the current uproar over an enormous uptick in Ryder Cup ticket costs. Given all this info, is it time to truly pay the gamers?

Berhow: I’d need to look again at my earlier stance right here, however I’m fairly certain I used to be in opposition to paying gamers and thought it wasn’t an excessive amount of to ask millionaires to signify their nation as soon as each couple of years. However one thing concerning the elevated Ryder Cup ticket costs at a spot (Bethpage) that’s lengthy been praised for and pleased with its accessibility and affordability has irked me. Pay the gamers.

Sens: In my very best world, the PGA of America would use the proceeds to cowl simply the prices of working the occasion and provides all the opposite income to charity. And the rosters can be restricted to (already very wealthy) gamers who’re prepared to play for satisfaction and nation. However I do know that’s not how capitalism works.

Bastable: Gamers enjoying for nothing may need made sense within the early days of the Ryder Cup when groups crossed the Atlantic not by aircraft however by boat, however the occasions they’re a-changin’. The occasion is now arguably the sport’s second greatest spectacle behind the Masters, and a monetary windfall — to the tune of tens of tens of millions of {dollars} — for its organizing our bodies. If getting paid (even on precept) is necessary to the gamers, then maybe it’s time to chop them a examine. Have a look at the Olympics, the place a minimum of seven nations pay out their gold medalists six-figure bonuses. Right here’s an thought: Ryder Cup groups might pay out their gamers on efficiency. Say, $50,000 for each level gained. Make ’em earn it.   

Amid golf’s continued divide, there was one other reported assembly final week between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan. How vital is that this information within the curiosity of a deal being accomplished? A bit of? Or quite a bit?

Berhow: I’m uninterested in this. They’ve jets and may meet each time they need.

Sens: Phrase is that they had been simply buying and selling casserole recipes. I learn that on social media, so it have to be true. Come to think about it, perhaps they need to strive sharing a potluck meal. None of those different conferences appear to be main wherever

Bastable: Proper. I feel we’re all at or nicely previous the purpose at which solely an official announcement concerning the PGA Tour and PIF’s path ahead collectively will get our consideration. Followers are pissed off, jaded, disenchanted. Even when a deal is hammered out and introduced, it’s going to take a very long time to re-engage these followers who’ve walked over the previous couple of years. I, for one, stay hopeful, although. There are too many sensible folks within the room — and the stakes are far too excessive — to screw this up.

The tenth installment of TNT’s The Match gained’t contain any professional golfers, however as a substitute a set of eight actors, comedians and athletes. The Match: Superstars will characteristic Invoice Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Phelps, Nate Bargatze, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Blake Griffin. The occasion takes place on Nov. 21-22 at Breakers West Nation Membership in West Palm Seaside, Fla. Ideas on the brand new format/lineup?

Berhow: I’m going to shock myself right here and say I’m mildly on this (at the least greater than different lineups). My gripe about The Match has all the time been that it’s troublesome for many of those golf stars to flick on that swap and turn out to be entertaining between the golf photographs, which is essential to good tv. However having some comedians (Murray, Bargatze) and characters (Sir Charles) and the inevitable squirrely photographs from amateurs means there may be some enjoyable unpredictability to this.

Sens: Invoice Murray is nice. Charles Barkley will be humorous. However the entire thing sounds painfully contrived to me. Now, should you obtained them altogether and let Nikki Glaser roast them on Comedy Central, I’d watch that.

Bastable: I’ve all the time felt A-list execs deliver a way of gravitas to The Match. To not point out strain. Bear in mind when Tom Brady seemed like a 25-handicapper within the 2020 version with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods? That was nice theater! You get the sense he wouldn’t have struggled so mightily with Blake Griffin and Nate Bargatze in tow as a substitute. This subsequent Match simply seems like a watered-down model of the American Century.

Blissful Halloween (a couple of days late)! What’s your favourite golfy Halloween costume you’ve stumbled upon through the years?

Berhow: I’ve all the time been a fan of the healthful Masters caddie uniform, however certainly one of my social feeds lately confirmed a bunch of a couple of dozen guys — a participant, a caddie and followers within the gallery — stroll by way of neighborhoods hitting photographs like they had been enjoying Augusta. Love the dedication.

Sens: I really performed a post-work twilight spherical on Halloween this 12 months. I put a whole lot of work into the costume and confirmed up dressed like a golfer, but it surely was no use. The get-up fooled nobody.

Bastable: I’m nonetheless ready for somebody to determine methods to costume up because the scariest factor in golf: aerated greens.

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