[Golf Topic] 'Number 3' Kepka "What about the new pro golf tour PGL?"

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○..."Money is not important."

Brooks Koepka (USA), ranked 3rd in the world, expressed a negative view on the new professional golf tour, the Premier Golf League (PGL). On the 27th (Korean time), a day before the start of the PGA Tour Honda Classic (total prize money $7 million) in the United States, he emphasized in an interview held at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (par 70, 7,125 yards), "I just want to play where the best players in the world gather."

The PGL is a stage declared by an organization called the World Golf Group (WGG) in New York in January 2022. With 18 tournaments and a total prize money of $240 million (2.917 trillion KRW), it is currently about half the total prize money of the PGA Tour's $400 million, but since the number of tournaments is relatively small, the prize money per tournament is higher. Especially, unlike the PGA Tour where about 150 players participate, only exactly 48 players compete without a 'cut off.' It is a blatant intention to take only 48 world stars.

Recently, Andrew Gardiner, CEO of PGL, revealed specific plans, saying, "The total prize money per tournament is $10 million, and rankings will be determined by 54-hole stroke play," and "No tournaments will be held during the four major championships." Players' opinions are still divided. While 'the returning golf emperor' Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (both USA) said, "We are looking into whether it is a realistic plan," showing a favorable stance, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) drew a line, saying, "I am not interested."