Elevated Events PGA Tour 101: Everything You Need To Know
The PGA Tour is known for hosting a wide range of prestigious golf tournaments throughout the year, but in recent years, a new concept has taken center stage: the Elevated Events PGA Tour.
These events bring together the top players in the world, creating an exclusive platform for showcasing their skills and providing fans with unparalleled excitement. Let us delve into the specifics of these new events.
I. What are PGA Tour elevated events?
PGA Tour elevated events, also known as designated events, are a specific classification of tournaments within the PGA Tour.
In 2022, the PGA Tour announced the 2023 schedule, including four major championships with elevated prize money. There are a total of 17 designated events held throughout the year.
The primary motivation behind this move was to create more tournaments where all the top PGA Tour players compete at the same time. This decision can be attributed to the LIV golf vs PGA Tour rivalry. This strategic development has the potential to revive the glory days of golf and attract a larger viewership than ever before.
II. Players’ participation in PGA Tour
Players’ participation in PGA Tour elevated events varies based on certain criteria and rankings. Let’s explore the eligibility and selection process for these prestigious tournaments.
1. Can all PGA Tour players participate in elevated events?
No, not all PGA Tour players can participate in elevated events. The selection process for these tournaments is based on various factors, including a player’s ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking, FedExCup standings, and performance in previous tournaments.
Only the top-performing players earn the privilege to compete in these elevated events, ensuring a highly competitive field.
2. Do PGA Tour elevated events have only 20 players?
No, PGA Tour elevated events do not have only 20 players. While there is a designated group of 20 players who are guaranteed entry into these tournaments, the standard fields for elevated events can include a larger number of players. The designated 20 players are selected based on various factors, such as their performance in the Player Impact Program (PIP).
The fields in designated events typically range from 70 to 78 players, and there is no halfway cut.
However, these changes do not apply to all elevated events, as the majors, the Players Championship, and the FedEx Cup playoff tournaments will remain unaffected.
III. List of designated 20 players for Elevated events PGA Tour
The Top 20 players from the previous year’s Player Impact Program (PIP) are obligated to participate in all 17 elevated events, with the option to skip one while playing three other PGA Tour events.
However, there is an exception for Tiger Woods, who won the PIP for two consecutive years and is not required to fulfill the elevated event requirements without facing penalties.
Here is a list of designated 20 players for the PGA tour elevated events:
- Tiger Woods
- Rory McIlroy
- Jordan Spieth
- Justin Thomas
- Jon Rahm
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Will Zalatoris
- Tony Finau
- Collin Morikawa
- Shane Lowry
- Kevin Kisner
- Max Homa
- Billy Horschel
- Rickie Fowler
- Adam Scott
- Jason Day
- Patrick Cantlay
- Viktor Hovland
IV. PGA Tour Designated events schedule: 2023
Here is the 17 PGA Tour designated events scheduled for 2023:
| Date | Designated event | Winner |
| Jan 5-8 | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Feb. 9-12 | WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| Feb. 16-19 | Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm |
| Mar. 2-5 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama |
| Mar. 9-12 | The Players Championship | Scottie Scheffler |
| Mar. 23-26 | WGC Dell Technologies Match play | Sam Burns |
| Apr. 6-9 | Masters Tournament | Jon Rahm |
| Apr. 13-16 | RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| May 4-7 | Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark |
| May 18-21 | PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| June 1-4 | The Memorial Tournament | Viktor Hovland |
| June 15-18 | U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark |
| June 22-25 | Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley |
| July 20-23 | Open Championship | |
| Aug. 10-13 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | |
| Aug. 17-20 | BMW Championship | |
| Aug. 24-27 | Tour Championship |
Note: Out of a total of 17 tournaments that were scheduled for 2023, 13 have already taken place, while the remaining 4 are still to be held in the upcoming months.
V. PGA Tour elevated events 2024
In 2024, the PGA Tour is set to feature eight designated no-cut events with elevated purses and limited fields of 70-80 players.
Four of these events are:
- Sentry Tournament of Champions
- The Genesis Invitational
- The Arnold Palmer Invitational
- The Memorial Tournament
The remaining four events have yet to be determined, but there are reports that the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will be one of them, with the celebrity portion condensed to two days.
In total, there will be 16 designated events in 2024, including the above-mentioned eight, the four major championships, three playoff events, and the Players Championship. Unlike in 2023, players will not be obligated to participate in designated events.
VI. 2022 elevated events vs. 2023 elevated events: Changes
When comparing the elevated events of 2022 to those of 2023, there have been significant changes.
One of the notable changes is the increase in the number of elevated events. Previously, there were 13 elevated events, but in 2023, with the addition of four major championships, this number has expanded to 17.
Furthermore, there have been substantial increases in prize money payouts for the tournaments. Here is a closer look at the prize money difference in elevated events in 2023:
| Sl.no | Designated event | Prize money 2022 | Prize money 2023 |
| 1 | Sentry Tournament of Champions | $8 million | $15 million |
| 2 | WM Phoenix Open | $8 million | $20 million |
| 3 | Genesis Invitational | $12 million | $20 million |
| 4 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | $12 million | $20 million |
| 5 | The Players Championship | $20 million | $25 million |
| 6 | WGC Dell Technologies Match play | $12 million | $20 million |
| 7 | RBC Heritage | $8 million | $20 million |
| 8 | Wells Fargo Championship | $9 million | $20 million |
| 9 | The Memorial Tournament | $12 million | $20 million |
| 10 | Travelers Championship | $8 million | $20 million |
| 11 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | $15 million | $20 million |
| 12 | BMW Championship | $15 million | $20 million |
| 13 | Tour Championship | $75 million | $75 million |
Conclusion
The PGA Tour’s elevated events are an exciting addition to the professional golf world. They provide players with the opportunity to compete for larger purses and prestigious titles, and they also create a more engaging viewing experience for fans.
