The PGA Tour has just announced an unprecedented financial support program for its former fully exempt members and players on its Access, at the very moment it has reduced the number of cards and playing opportunities through 2026. This measure has cost players like nine-time winner Matt Kuchar their full playing rights.
This assistance would undoubtedly have reassured players like Victor Perez, who had long been uncertain about his future. "I felt like I was at a point in my career where I was looking for a bit more stability, which I hadn't really had until now, and the LIV seems to offer that," the new LIV Golf player, who had spoken with CEO Brian Rolapp, told bunkered.co.uk.
Pga Tour, two programs to secure income
According to a memo sent to players on Tuesday, the first program is the Member Support Program, which guarantees $150,000 in prize money to players ranked beyond 125th in the FedExCup standings, provided they play in at least 12 PGA Tour and/or Korn Ferry Tour events during the season. Golf Channel specifies that participants will not have to repay this amount if they do not reach the required prize money.
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The second program, the Pathways Player Achievement Grant, will offer $15,000 at the start of the season to Korn Ferry exempt members, which can be used freely to finance their careers.
This applies to players ranked between 21st and 75th in the Korn Ferrystandings the previous year, the top 10 in the PGA Tour Americas, and the top five in the PGA Tour University.
This support is funded by a redistribution of funds from the Earnings Assurance Program, which previously provided $500,000 in advances to fully exempt PGA members.
With the reduction in the number of full-eligible players starting in 2026 (from 125 to 100), these advances will be less frequent, and a portion of the funds will now be used to support those moving up or down the system.
According to the memo, the policy board approved these decisions, and "the goal is to reward high-performing players and support those moving up and down the PGA Tour."
