The PGA Tour needs to change how it lets players pick and choose their tournaments, according to golf analyst Paul McGinley. And he’s not mincing words about it.
"The old way just doesn’t work anymore," McGinley told Sky Sports. "Not when we’re talking about billion-dollar TV deals and the massive business golf has become."
It’s a hot topic in golf right now, especially since LIV Golf started shaking things up with its guaranteed appearance model.
The PGA Tour tried to adapt last year with its new signature events, where players could only skip one tournament without losing bonus money. But even that caused problems.
Just ask Rory McIlroy. He missed out on $3 million in bonus cash after skipping two events – The Sentry and the RBC Heritage.
McGinley, who served on the DP World Tour board until 2023, thinks golf needs to work more like other major sports leagues.
"Look at the NBA or NFL," he says. "How can you run a proper business when you don’t even know if your stars are showing up?"
He’s got a point. LIV Golf requires its players to compete in every event – something McGinley actually thinks they got right.
"It’s not about paying players less," he explains. "It’s about paying them differently. When players are contracted, you can actually guarantee sponsors who they’re getting for their money."
But it’s not just about showing up – it’s about where they play too. McGinley wants to see America’s top stars competing more internationally.
"Guys like Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele basically disappear from August until January unless there’s a Ryder Cup," he says. "That’s not great for golf."
McGinley recently proposed a peace plan between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, suggesting the top 10 LIV players could compete in five PGA Tour signature events and The Players Championship. In return, the PGA Tour would get two teams in LIV’s season finale.
The big question now: Will the tours listen to this voice of reason?
