And with this mega deal, the PGA expects for the payout of $10 million for the FedExCup victor along with the $35 million bonus pool to increase substantially, something that will certainly please the players. Such a change-perhaps assisted by reducing the FedEx Playoffs from four to three-would achieve Monahan's stated goal of having the golf season culminate with the Tour Championship by Labor Day, thereby avoiding the competition with pro and college football it now deals with through September.
Tiger Woods is a two-time victor of the FedEx Cup, and others to win the top prize have been Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Brandt Snedeker, Henrik Stenson, Billy Horschel, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, who clinched the title in September when he defeated Ryan Moore in a playoff to win the Tour Championship. Discussions between the parties have been ongoing for some time; Monahan late Monday afternoon called the extension "critical" for the Tour in terms of having a stabilized foundation as it moves into the future. That could involve moving The Players Championship back to March (instead of this week), and cooperation from the PGA of America to consider moving the PGA Championship to the spring.
The FedExCup has been one of the most exciting events on the PGA TOUR since its inception.
"This significant announcement continues to solidify the TOUR Championship as one of the biggest dates on the sporting calendar", said Martin Stephenson, tournament director of the TOUR Championship.
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There has also been talk of reforming the PGA Tour schedule, reducing the number of playoff events from four to three so that the season could end on Labor Day weekend. This gives the Tour huge stability and flexibility to make changes to their schedule around, something they desperately needed with many players and spectators believing the people in charge are taking the sport in the wrong direction. "There is some exciting potential when you look at the schedule and other things, but I don't know what the best answer will be yet".
The extension through 2027 goes well beyond the tour's television contracts with NBC, CBS and Golf Channel, which expire in 2021.
Asked about making such a long-term commitment to golf as the game forges into the future with its brightest star, 41-year-old Tiger Woods, on the sideline and facing an uncertain road ahead, Fitzgerald did not mince words. "And that is with no reflection on any past generation or groups of players".
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