In dealing with the controversial LIV Golf series, the North American PGA Tour and the European DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, have deepened their existing cooperation.
Together, the two tournament series announced a “groundbreaking” partnership for the next 13 years through 2035.
At the same time, the American Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson indicated that he wanted to do without renegade players in the team in the future.
The PGA wants to increase its stake in European Tour Productions, which among other things produces the TV pictures of the European Tour and the Ryder Cup, from 15 to 40 percent.
From 2023, the ten best players in the DP World Tour rankings will be eligible to play on the PGA Tour.
An increase in the prize money of the European tournaments was also announced.
Shorter tournaments, more prize money
LIV Golf attracts the pros with shorter tournaments and higher prize money.
The new series is criticized because of the millions invested from Saudi Arabia.
The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
PGA Tour and DP World Tour have sanctioned participants in the first tournament of the new series with exclusions, tournament bans and fines.
Meanwhile, American professionals who start at LIV events are threatened with the end of the Ryder Cup.
In order to be able to take part in the traditional comparison between the USA and Europe, "you have to collect Ryder Cup points through PGA America," Captain Zach Johnson was quoted as saying in the American media.
That is not possible after the exclusions.
Johnson: "I'll let you connect those dots."