Tiger Woods was awarded the Player Impact Program (PIP), top prize, and a $15 million bonus. 23 players will benefit from the $100,000,000 program that includes various amounts up to $2 million.
But there is a catch: the money won’t be all paid at once, and several requirements must be met.
Players will receive 25% of their January bonus. But to receive the remaining 75 percent, three “PIP obligations” must first be fulfilled.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is the final arbiter on the Player Impact Program payouts—which explains why Tiger Woods will get his full $15 million.
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A player must compete in a mutually agreed upon “PIP designated tournament,” must perform one “PIP service event” and must fulfill the mandatory participation requirement.
The Tour will work with players in order to find an event that may be receiving less interest. It might be as one of three additional events that players have the option of choosing. The second is most likely a clinic, talk or autograph sessions. And the third is competing in all of the elevated or “designated tournaments” for which a player is eligible
These events are: The Sentry Tournament of Champions; the WM Phoenix Open; the Genesis Invitational; the Arnold Palmer Invitational; the Players Championship.
The players must also add three events to their total of 20.
Players will be given one “opt-out” event for “personal or professional reasons.’’
How will Woods be able meet the requirements of all tournaments, considering the injuries to his right side that will keep him from playing a full-time schedule?
There is more.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan “at his sole discretion, may modify, waive or adjust eligibility requirements, program commitments and/or program metrics.”
Woods will therefore receive the full $15 million. Any other player who misses several events due to injury might also be eligible for the same rewards.
As for a player who is no longer a PGA Tour member—i.e. someone who jumps to LIV Golf—he will forfeit his remaining bonus.