Premier Golf League CEO Andrew Gardiner said that the upstart golf league "would run from January through August and consist of 12 four-man teams," adding that the owner or leader of each team "would pick two players to count for the team score prior the start of the first round," according to Steve DiMeglio of GOLFWEEK. Players "would be required to play all 18 events, with each featuring 54 holes, shotgun starts, no cut and no dress code." Each of the first 17 events would have a $10M purse, with the season-ending playoff tournament featuring one of $40M. An individual champion also will be "crowned in the final event." The goal is for the league to begin in '22. Throughout his appearance on U.K.-based "The Rick Shiels Golf Show," Gardiner said that the PGL "wants to work with both the PGA Tour and European Tour to achieve collaboration," adding that the league "only happens 'if everybody wants it to happen, and that includes the best players in the world.'" Meanwhile, Gardiner said that the PGL has "partnered with Omnicom Sports, the largest media buyer in the U.S., and The Raine Group," adding that financial backing "would come from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia." But DiMeglio noted "no major sponsors have been revealed, and television and live streaming rights are unknown" (GOLFWEEK.com, 2/22).
DAMAGE DONE? GOLF DIGEST's Max Adler noted Gardiner "doesn’t regard Rory McIlroy saying [last] week, 'I’m out,' as particularly damaging." He said, “It brought to mind the Mark Twain quote, ‘Rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated,’ as if this were some fatal wound" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 2/21). GOLF.com in its weekly roundtable asked if McIlroy's words could damage the PGL's prospects. Golf.com's Dylan Dethier writes it "damages the league’s prospects big time," as the PGL needs "a LOT to overpower the current Tour infrastructure, including its most popular" players not named Tiger Woods. Golf.com's Luke Kerr-Dineen: "Damage it? Undoubtedly. Kill it? No chance. ... All they need few big fish to pique people’s interest." Golf.com's Jonathan Wall writes it is a "massive blow," as the PGL "doesn't work without the megastars." Wall: "If Rory is cold to the idea, I can’t imagine others are going to be jumping at the chance" (GOLF.com, 2/24). Golf Channel's Jaime Diaz said, "This is about either choosing the money or your legacy, and that's a very difficult choice still for the players to make" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 2/22).
