Whether we note the McIlroy-Caddie “Bones” McKay squabble or the bigger combination (can’t say “merger”) issue it is painfully obvious that 2024 will be a contentious year for pro golf tours. The latest flap is the awarding of points for both the FedEx Cup year-end “pot-of-gold” and the golf player rankings based on performance for the season. Also at risk is that possibility that some previous American-turned-Saudi tour players will not qualify for 2024 Major tournaments like the Masters, the PGA, the (British) Open or the US Open. If points are not awarded to all players for performance it will impact the players ability to earn money. This is where the Department of Justice appears at the door and mentions the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 that, among other provisions, prohibits the restraint of trade. In the background is the business model–that is–where does the money come from and who gets it and what do they share? Advertisers are squeezing the PGA to open the doors to all players so Major tournaments include all the top players to draw the biggest audience and give the advertisers the biggest bang-for-their-buck. Networks want that ad money so they align with their ad dollar sources to pressure the PGA. The PGA–all the while–knows it cannot compete with the $20 million prize money on the Saudi tour and they are afraid that more PGA players will defect. Do you get the sense that there are a lot of moving parts? This is why we call 2024 a “disaster in the making”. Stay tuned–it will be a bumpy ride over a very public stage.

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