2024 COULD BE THE WILDEST YEAR FOR GOLF YET.

The PGA Tour take on outside investment, LIV Golf continues to make a considerable impact & the LPGA is set for an unprecedented year. Here comes the wildest year for golf.

If you thought 2023 was an interesting year for golf, 2024 could be the wildest year for golf yet.  The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are both in negotiations with their eyes set on inking a deal in 2024.  Top talent and personalities continue to leave the PGA Tour for guaranteed checks, fewer required tournaments and a global schedule.  The women’s game continues to see unprecedented investment at the professional, amateur and grassroots levels.  All of these organizations are vying for more external dollars from investors and sponsors.  Across the board participation is up, as more players have found golf or came back to the game during the pandemic..

The PGA Tour takes on outside investment: Billionaire hedge fund managers Steven Cohen and Marc Lasry are part of a consortium nearing the completion of a potential multi-billion-dollar investment in the PGA Tour, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.  Strategic Sports Group, might initially invest about $3 billion in the golf organization, and additional funds are expected from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, insiders revealed.  However, the specifics of a partnership between the PGA Tour and the Saudi wealth fund remain unclear, including the size and governance role of the Saudi investment, and how the Tour would balance its relationship with LIV, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

LIV Golf continues to make a considerable impact: Launched with substantial financial backing from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has been a disruptive force, challenging the traditional structure and norms of professional golf.  What many thought could never happen is, LIV Golf has maintained its momentum capturing wider audiences and continuing to land many of golf's top names.  The impact is clear, despite facing criticism and controversy, LIV Golf has managed to establish itself as a formidable presence in the world of professional golf.

The LPGA is set for an unprecedented year: Women's golf has seen significant progress and development, reflecting a broader trend towards gender equality and inclusivity in sports. One of the most notable changes has been the increased prize money and financial support for women golfers. Major tournaments and sponsors have made concerted efforts to close the pay gap between men's and women's golf, leading to more lucrative opportunities for female golfers.  The 2024 total prize fund represents the highest ever in Tour history, up from approximately $70 million in 2021, a 69% increase.  The schedule features a record 16 tournaments with purses of at least $3 million, including 10 non-major and non-Tour Championship events (an increase from four in 2023 and only one in 2021).

In 2024 which will be the wildest year for golf, will continue to witness significant transformation and expansion, marked by heightened competition and innovation within the sport.  There's been unprecedented growth in women's golf, with efforts to close the pay gap, increase media coverage, and enhance global participation. The media landscape continues to shift with streaming and social media playing a major role in how golf is viewed and distributed.  These developments reflect a dynamic period in golf, with traditional norms being redefined and the sport adapting to a new era of competition and audience engagement.