Besides the political campaigning there is another type of campaigning going on. The PGA of America is trying desperately to pretend that the Saudi Golf Tour does not exist. After losing John Rahm, the current Masters Champ, to the Saudi tour over the winter and being forced to double its prize money the US tour is trying to maintain a stable of established stars to keep the ad money-network-PGA administration-players business model intact. It won’t be easy. The Saudi Wealth Fund has almost unlimited funds, a shorter season schedule, bonuses for team play within each tournament, relaxed dress code and other incentives (prize money guarantees, taxes, etc.). Fans should realize that pro players are independent contractors who have complete discretion over where and when they play. Many of these newer players who show great promise will be attracted to the Saudi tour because they are guaranteed prize money every tournament regardless of how they play. The danger here is that the next generation of Tiger Woods/John Rahm/Scottie Scheffler/etc. players will hone their skills on the Saudi tour thereby creating a gap in the age group they represent on the US tour. A solution must be found that can work long term. The two tours say they are combined but that’s a joke. Ask John Rahm…he walked away with $300 to $500 million before even playing around of golf on the Saudi tour. The big question is: why are the Saudi’s wasting money to develop a game that can never be profitable in that part of the world? Climate, religion, the culture, lack of physical security–all these issues would seem to dampen the Saudi interest and yet it seems to grow each year. Why?
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