With multiple changes in format, we break down exactly how the three main tours are going to look in 2024 and part two delves into the new-look PGA Tour. Part one, which featured the DP World Tour can be viewed here.
Whilst the waters surrounding the framework agreement between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the PGA and DP World Tours remain as murky as ever, the 2024 seasons on LIV, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour are just around the corner and with more riches than ever up for grabs, who plays where and when has never been more important.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour’s Strategic Alliance continues to see the benefits spread across both tours and the revamped formats on each should lead to more cross-participation of the leading players on both sides of the Atlantic.
Here is what we can expect to see on all three of the leading professional men’s circuits in 2024.
THE PGA TOUR
Like the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour will see major changes in its format, if only minor changes in its schedule. A complete overhaul has seen an alignment with the Gregorian calendar and the ‘Fall Series’ become an effective battleground to ascertain who will start 2024 with full playing rights and who will play their way into the newly branded ‘Signature Events.’
After the 2023 season culminates at the RSM Classic on November 19, the top 125-ranked players in the FedEx Cup rankings will all secure their playing rights for 2024, along with the 10 DP World Tour qualifiers, 30 Korn Ferry Tour graduates, and the leading five from PGA Tour Q-School.
Players ranked between 126 and 200 will have the opportunity to apply for associate DP World Tour membership with a recent announcement stating that a new special category was being introduced that would see up to five players from this category admitted into regular DP World Tour events and any player playing at least four could feasibly qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.
The eight ‘Signature Events’ are all limited fields, with the season-opening The Sentry open to the top 50 in the 2023 FedEx Cup standings and all 2023 PGA Tour tournament winners, while the remaining seven will feature last year’s top 50 and 15 additional qualifiers comprised of the ‘Next 10’ and ‘Swing 5’ players. The ‘Next 10’ for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational will be the top-10 ranked players from the 2023 Fall Series, and for the rest of the year it will be top-10 non-exempt on the 2024 FedEx Cup rankings.
The ‘Swing 5’ comprises the top five not already-exempt players from selected regular PGA Tour events in the immediate run-up to the event, with scope for several sponsor’s exemptions into each event, final fields are expected to be in the 70-80 region.
The three Invitational Events – The Genesis Invitational, The Arnold Palmer Invitation and The Memorial – will continue to have a 36-hole cut for the top-50 and ties with the winner receiving 20 percent of the total purse ($4 million), while all other ‘Signature Events’ will be no-cut with the winner receiving 18 percent.
At the end of the regular season, the top 70 players will retain full playing status for 2025 and advance to the FedEx Cup playoffs, while those ranked 71 and above will need to compete in the 2024 Fall Series once again.
The PGA Tour’s Signature Events
Jan 4-7 The Sentry – Kapalua
Feb 1-4 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Pebble Beach/Spyglass Hill
Feb 15-18 The Genesis Invitational – Riviera
Mar 07-10 The Arnold Palmer Invitational – Bay Hill
Apr 18-21 The RBC Heritage – Harbour Town Links
May 09-12 The Wells Fargo Championship – Quail Hollow
Jun 06-09 The Memorial Tournament – Muirfield Village
Jun 20-23 Travelers Championship – TPC River Highlands
The above feature appeared in the 2023-8 edition of Irish Golfer. To view the full edition click below
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