DP World Tour players given pay guarantee in response to LIV Golf threat

DP World Tour has announced a record prize fund of 144.2m dollars (£128m) across 39 tournaments with Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn giving the move a thumbs up in a tweet

Last Updated: 03/11/22 3:14pm

DP World Tour players will be guaranteed 150,000 US Dollars (£133,000) next
season in the latest response to the threat of LIV Golf.

A new Earnings Assurance Programme will see exempt players receive the money if they play a minimum of 15 events. The PGA Tour announced a similar programme in August with rookies guaranteed 500,000 dollars (£445,000).

Last place in each of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf events this season was worth 120,000 dollars (£106,000). Dustin Johnson earnt more than 35m dollars (£32m) in individual and team prize money.

Dustin Johnson was a big-earner after joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf

Announcing a record prize fund of 144.2m dollars (£128m) across 39 tournaments, DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “For us to be able to offer our members record prize funds and enhanced earning opportunities is massive, particularly when global economies are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and with the new challenge of rising inflation significantly putting pressure on costs in all facets of our business.

“Our overall prize fund for the 2023 season represents 50m more than 2021 and also underlines the strength of our partnership with the PGA Tour, who are working with us to drive revenue and a long-term growth plan.

“One of the many benefits we have been able to introduce because of this partnership is the new Earnings Assurance Programme, similar to what they already have on the PGA Tour.

“I have always believed that it is an incredible accomplishment for any professional golfer to simply gain their playing rights on the DP World Tour and this new initiative recognises and rewards that achievement.

“Although we will never lose the magic of the meritocracy and purity of a performance-based structure, this now offers certainty of income to those players who have made it to the pinnacle of the professional game in Europe.”

The first four Rolex Series events – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship – will all see prize money increase to £8m, with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship worth £9m.

A three-week break will follow the Open Championship in July following player feedback.