The PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian backers reached agreement on several issues during a recent meeting in New York.
Commissioner Jay Monahan warned players Tuesday night that “there is still work to be done” before an agreement can be reached.
Monahan sent the memo to players after the PGA Tour Policy Committee and the Commercial PGA Tour Enterprises Committee held a joint meeting during the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
He didn’t provide details, saying only that the goal was to develop a “shared vision for the future of professional golf” that would give players the best opportunities in the world.
The meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and PGA Tour Enterprises executives, including Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy, took place on May 11.
Monahan also announced some tweaks to the 2025 PGA Tour schedule, saying a revised model for the previous year’s top performers would generate roughly the same level of sales.
One of the big changes involves Woods.
The committee approved an additional $20 million special event sponsorship exemption for Woods as a player who has “achieved extraordinary lifetime achievement” by winning 80 or more tournaments in his career.
Woods won three majors this year and one of four sponsor’s entry spots at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, but was forced to withdraw because of the flu.
The signature player-sponsored events — Riviera, Bay Hill and Memorial — only have small fields that make the cut.
Monahan said the tour committee and player advisory committee would consider whether all signees should be given a cut.
The board took no action.
The board approved a minimum of 72 players for the signature events and created an alternate list for players not yet eligible, based on current FedExCup standings.
This year, fewer than 70 people participated, and players expressed dissatisfaction.
Of the 69 competitors at this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, only one player, Nick Dunlap, had to play in the tournament in singles.
Only 71 players will be fielded in this week’s Travelers Championship after McIlroy withdrew.
The top 50 players in the FedExCup will be exempt from all events with a total prize purse of $20 million.
Especially early in the season, more athletes competed in other events, limiting the availability of conditional athletes, such as those who finished 126th to 150th.
The committee said it would not make any changes to next year’s rankings until conditional players have had the opportunity to play three or four times.
