As I stated in a previous post where Greg Norman won £70,000 for his victory at Trump Turnberry in The Open 1986 - The winners checks should return to a normal level so the The R&A can spend more globally promoting the game as they are charged to do - same goes for the United States Golf Association (USGA) & PGAs. It is not any way in their remit to pay pros generational wealth in a single check. I keep hearing the from the pros themselves that they are playing for legacy and trophies not money - The for profits (PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)) & others that self-fund (LIV Golf, Masters) may increase the purses as much as they like and sponsors will support - but the organizations that grow the game from grass roots support so that the leaderboards are full of flags from around the world should have the support of the professionals to cap the purses - The prestige of the Major shouldn't be contingent of the amount of the winners check. As Martin Slumbers bravely brought attention to the fact the escalation of purses on Golf's most important organizations is unsustainable. In addition, a reduction in the overall men's purse would, like tennis, hopefully allow equal men's and women's payouts in the majors hosted by those organizations as they support both. The Open is the greatest legacy major and doesn't need the largest purse to prove it. #growthegame Augusta National Golf Club #TheMasters PGA of America The PGA The Golf Business
The winner of The 152nd Open at Royal Troon will receive USD 3.1 million in prize money. The Champion Golfer of the Year will receive the highest amount in The Open’s history as it returns to the renowned Ayrshire links for the tenth time. The R&A announced that the total prize fund for The Open, played from 14-21 July 2024, will be USD 17 million, a USD 500,000 increase on 2023. Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “The R&A has a responsibility to strike a balance between maintaining The Open’s position in the global game, providing the funds required for governance and developing amateur and recreational golf in 146 countries internationally. “We have to make choices if we want to continue to build on the significant growth in participation that is essential for golf’s future. “We remain concerned about the impact substantial increases in men’s professional prize money are having on the perception of the sport and its long-term financial sustainability. We are determined to act with the interests of the global game in mind as we pursue our goal of ensuring golf continues to thrive in 50 years’ time.”
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3moA tough call & challenging decisions need to be made in the very near future if there is ever likely to be a sensible cap applied. Would it mean the R&A & USGA come to an agreement capping both of their majors with a prize fund reduction in the next year or so? Additionally, & this will be contentious; should the two governing bodies continue to pursue a golf ball rollback for the recreational golfer? As this will damage the growth of the game, when it’s the (over-paid) Tour Pros who are in need of the rollback most? I for one, don’t want to play with a rollback ball.. I am already experiencing ‘natural rollback’ with increasing age & lessening speed as many do, so why would I want to continue to play as I enter my 60’s (5 years time) with an additional loss of 20-30 yards on top of the already painful 40yd loss of the last 5 years? This will not grow the game, the worlds best players will continue to hit the ball too far for continued use of our finest championship venues, economical development of new courses & sustainable growth of the game whilst continuing to get richer.. The R&A need to get a grip on reality at the grassroots level before they start & continue to whinge about mismanaged Open Championship prize funds?