The PGA Tour will resume their efforts to counter the threat of their new-found rivals LIV Golf later this week. The emergence of LIV rocked the world of golf in 2022, with the Saudi-backed series locked in a fierce battle with the PGA Tour.
LIV looked to lure in a number of the PGA Tour's big names with mega-money signing fees and lucrative prize pots following their inception in June. And this came with success, with some of the world's best making the controversial Saudi switch.
PGA Tour stalwart Phil Mickelson, along with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were just a few of the big names to sign on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co.
This kicked off a bitter feud between the American-based circuit and LIV, with the PGA Tour inflicting bans on all of those who decided to make the mega-money move. Since then golf's civil war has spiralled out of control.
As the sport enters 2023, LIV Golf is no doubt here to stay, and to deter this Jay Monahan and his fellow Tour bosses have begun their defence. This starts at this week's Tournament of Champions, with a new and improved prize pot on offer for those competing.
One of LIV's biggest pulls has no doubt been the remarkable amounts of money on offer to players competing, and as a result the PGA Tour have improved their own payouts. In the height of last year's battle Monahan announced a Tour revamp, with more money on offer to players, with a number of events receiving elevated status.
The first of these elevated events kicks off on Thursday in Hawaii, with an eye-watering £12.5 million ($15 million) on offer to those competing. The tournament contains a stellar field, with 39 of last year's winners competing.
One key omission from the playing list though is Rory McIlroy. As a result, leading players on the Tour are allowed to miss just one elevated event during the season, and McIlroy is the only one to opt out of this week's tournament.
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The only other top 10 player missing from the field is defending champion, and more importantly LIV Golf member, Cameron Smith. Smith was arguably LIV's biggest signing of 2022, after luring in the then world No. 2 just weeks after being crowned Open champion.
The Australian lit up the Hawaiian course last year, shooting a record-breaking 34-under-par on the way to a one-shot victory over Spaniard Jon Rahm. Smith however will not be there to defend his title this time around, following his Tour suspension.
