The PGA Tour is facing growing tensions as its focus shifts toward Signature Events and the response to LIV Golf, creating a divide between top players and the rest of the field. Michael Kim recently spoke out about the issue on Fairways of Life with Matt Adams, revealing that many PGA Tour players are worried about their job security as opportunities become more limited.
Kim described the situation as a “double-edged sword,” where elite players are benefiting from increased prize money, but journeymen are struggling with reduced playing chances. His comments follow Rory McIlroy’s recent admission that LIV Golf’s emergence has significantly boosted his earnings, further emphasizing the divide.
🚨💰🗣️ #MAKING BANK — Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf is to thank for his larger bank account: “…I look at what I made in 2019 before LIV came around and I look at what I’ve made after LIV came around and it’s very different…. @TrackingRory
“Like I don’t know what to say, I earn… pic.twitter.com/JHFurt7TDY
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 12, 2025
Since 2019, PGA Tour prize money has skyrocketed, with average purses increasing by 42%, and Signature Events now offering $20 million in prize funds. However, while the top 10 players have seen massive financial gains, those ranked between 75-125 have only experienced a 10% increase—effectively a decline when adjusted for inflation.
The PGA Tour has also reduced the number of full-field events from 44 in 2019 to just 28 in 2025, further limiting opportunities for lower-ranked players. While McIlroy and other stars thrive in this new system, many players, like Kim, fear that the Tour’s direction is squeezing out those who aren’t among the elite.
With tensions rising, will the PGA Tour make adjustments to provide more opportunities for its rank-and-file members? Or is the new era of professional golf one that prioritizes star power over depth?