World Golf Group: A potential rival for the PGA Tour

The World Golf Group is looking to make a splash in the world of golf, and supposedly has the backing of a British-based group signaling interest in forming a new tour replete with $10 million purse events.

The dominant oversight agency in men’s professional tournament golf may soon face the biggest challenge to the game’s structure since the revolution that led to its own formation more than a half-century ago. A British-based entity calling itself the World Golf Group has announced plans for what it envisions as an 18-event season of tournaments, each with a $10 million purse.

It was not immediately clear who the backers of this new tour are.

Geoff Shackelford, a well-known golf writer who over the weekend became something of a conduit for the entity’s plans, reported that the group’s statement announcing its intent said that “it is our intention to work with, rather than challenge, existing tours for the betterment of golf as a sport, pastime and media property.”

More from Pro Golf Now

The PGA Tour has dominated the conduct and scheduling of major tournaments, particularly in the United States, since its creation in 1968. It was formed as a spinoff of the Professional Golfers of America, which had operated tournament schedules from 1929 to that point.

Since then the PGA Tour has created several additional circuits, notably what has become known as the Champions, founded in the early 1980s, the developmental circuit is now known as the Korn Ferry, and affiliated tours in Canada, China, and Latin America.

The main PGA Tour conducts more than 50 events annually, of which only pots of the four majors, the four WGC events and the Tour Championship exceed $10 million. It also controls the major international competitions, notably the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.

If a new entity were to arise, it’s not clear how whether or players joining its circuit would become eligible to play in those major PGA Tour events.

There have been rumors for more than a year about the development of some new and rival oversight structure. Reuters reported the existence of the group as much as a year ago. If such a new entity were to arise, capturing the world’s premier players, it would affect not only the PGA Tour but also the other major circuits, based in Europe, South Africa, and Australasia.

Shackelford said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem cautioned players at last weekend’s Farmers event in San Diego to be wary of any proposed new organization.

"“Sources say defectors would face complications related to the releases necessary to play in non-PGA Tour events and loss of eligibility ion the Tour’s lucrative pension program, among other matters,” Shackelford wrote."

In its own reporting on the threat posed to the PGA Tour by the proposed new organization, the New York Times suggested much would hinge on the interest, if any, expressed by Tiger Woods. Although in his mid-40s, Woods remains the game’s most popular figure, and his participation probably would be seen as essential to the success golf any rival structure organization.

Next. Golf Tips: Upping Your Game by Going to Golf School. dark

Notably, when what became known as the PGA Tour spun off from the PGA and took control of tournaments in 1968, one of the faces of the spinoff movement was Jack Nicklaus, at the time probably the game’s dominant force. It will be worth keeping an ear open to see if the World Golf Group can manage something similar.

Home/Golf News