A petition has been distributed to PGA Tour members requesting a special meeting with tour leaders. The note, first reported by No immobilization and Golf Channel, was sent by an anonymous group of players.
Dear PGA Tour Member, A group of us are requesting a special meeting to address issues related to, but not limited to, the following: 1. FedEx Cup Points allocated to Signature Events versus Full Events. Example: Currently, a 5th place in a field of 78 players without a cut receives 272% more points than a 5th place in a traditional event with a cut. We request a significant discount before the first designated event. 2. Limited number of field signing events. 3. PIP program. 4. PGA Tour Management, PGA Tour Board of Directors and Player Directors. If you would like to participate in this meeting, please sign this petition.
The petition comes amid a wave of changes to the tour’s infrastructure, changes that some rank-and-file members say are heavily aimed at the tour’s top players. It is believed that the tour’s flagship events, with limited numbers and larger purses, create a two-tour system and that the current format restricts promotion and relegation between these tiers.
Additionally, many players, regardless of position, have expressed frustration with the surprising secretive framework agreement reached in June with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The tour attempted to be more transparent with its members following the announcement, adding Tiger Woods to the policy board and bringing in Colin Neville of Raine Group to ensure a collaborative process during ongoing negotiations. The policy council sent a memo to members Friday with relatively vague updates on the negotiations.
“Since Tiger joined the Board of Directors on August 1, Player Directors have done everything in their power to ensure that the PGA Tour is best positioned to thrive for decades to come,” the memo said . “We have learned a lot and are encouraged by progress on several fronts. Additionally, the memo acknowledges that a number of investor groups participated in the negotiations, something noted in several previous letters.
Nonetheless, a group of players continue to feel like their voices are not being heard, with Lanto Griffin, Jimmy Walker and Nate Lashley, among others, airing their grievances in recent weeks.
The framework agreement specifies that the tour and PIF have until the end of the year to reach an agreement on the proposed for-profit entity, although both parties have the option to extend the deadline. The first event of the 2024 season begins the first week of January with the Sentry (formerly the Tournament of Champions), which is classified as a signature event. The first full tournament will take place the following week at the Sony Open.
