This year’s winner of the “Fifth Major”, the Players Championship, Justin Thomas. Las Vegas, United States = Getty Images / Multibits
(Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, golf reporter) ○…”The total prize amount is $20 million (24 billion won).”
The PGA Tour in the United States, known as the “5th Major”, The Players Championship, will significantly expand its scope next year. On the 12th (Korean time), the American Golf Channel reported: “The total prize money for The Players 2022 is set at $20 million,” adding: “This is the largest prize money ever.” That’s an increase of $5 million from this year’s $15 million. The winner’s prize money will also increase from $2.7 million to $3.6 million (4.31 billion won).
The PGA Tour is making special efforts to elevate this tournament to a major tournament, living up to its nickname as a “players’ festival.” Established in 1974, the PGA Tour headquarters chose the Sawgrass TPC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA (par 72, 7,189 yards) as its venue in 1982, adding symbolic significance. In 2006, together with world-renowned course designer Pete Dye (USA), they invested $40 million (47.92 billion won) to complete a major renovation of the course.
The expansion of the playoff in 2014 to three holes (combined score of holes 16 to 18), the same as for the PGA Championship, was in the same vein. The honors for the champion are also exceptional. They receive a PGA Tour card for 5 years (2 years for the regular circuit), 80 world ranking points and 600 FedEx Cup points, the equivalent of a major tournament. There are also exciting rewards such as invitations to the Masters, US Open and The Open for 3 years, as well as a ticket to that year’s PGA Championship. Golf Channel announced that “beginning with the 2022 season, a $50,000 bonus will be awarded across a minimum of 15 tournaments.”
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