The Players Tournament 2022 has a new media landscape with a global agenda, a host of new title sponsor agreements, a full return of spectators, and an upcoming intense and exciting game. And the core of the core is the collision between young star players and highly qualified veterans, who will compete on the world's largest golf stage.
No wonder Chairman Jay Monaghan is bullish on the future of the PGA Tour.
(Monaghan in an interview with the media before the Players Tournament)
"We're going to grow faster than at any time in history over the next 10 years," Monaghan said in his annual Tour speech, "and our players have said that they are 100 percent supportive of the PGA Tour." They have expressed loyalty and commitment in their own unique way. ”
With the PGA Tour's flagship tournament, the Players Tournament, set off this week at TPC Sawtooth, Monaghan spoke about several topics related to the PGA Tour, as well as the players' latest developments, including discussions about potential rival leagues and Phil Mickelson's comments on the matter.
Describing these as "all the recent news, discussion and speculation about the world of professional golf," Monaghan insisted that the PGA Tour, as the world's most important golf league, has a pivotal position and will continue to be in that position.
"The PGA Tour is moving forward," Monaghan said, "and we have too much motivation and too much achievement to keep being distracted by rumors from other golf leagues or letting them try to disrupt our players, our partners." Most importantly, our fans enjoy the PGA Tour and enjoy golf, a sport we both love so much. ”
"We are very grateful to our top players for their recent public support. I'm very proud that we've turned the tide and focused on what we do best. Deliver world-class golf to the best fans while making a positive impact on the community in which we operate. Focus on this now and in the future. ”
This impact – and its continued growth – is certainly under good control.
The top 5 players in the world rankings, and 8 in the top 10, are under 30. They include: First-placed Joan Ram (27), second-placed Colin Morcheon (25), third-placed Victor Hoveland (24), fourth-placed Patrick Cantree (29), fifth-placed Scotty Schaeffler (25), seventh-placed Sander Schauffler (28), eighth-placed Justin Thomas (28) and tenth-placed Cameron Smith (28).
This week, as part of golf's strongest tournament of the year, all of the above names will appear in the Players Tournament.
(Monaghan expresses confidence in the future of the PGA Tour.)
"It's just a reflection of the tournament system," Monaghan said, "and I mean, these young players come from all over the world and have been successful on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour very early on." The depth of that talent — not just the world's top 5, you stretch it beyond the top 5, into the top 30 and top 50 — has the strength, the youth, the full potential, and these young people are making a difference, arguably the most exciting moment in PGA Tour history. ”
Of the 10 under-30 players, three are international stars – Ram from Spain, Hovland from Norway and Smith from Australia. Due to the PGA Tour's own international development, fans around the world will appreciate their performance this week, as the Players Tournament will be broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories in 27 languages.
Another up-and-coming young international star is Chile's Joaquin Nieman, who is only 23 years old. He recently won his second PGA Tour title at the Genesis Invitational and has been in the lead from start to finish.
In Los Angeles, one of the cities with the largest Latin American population in the United States, the significance of having a Latin American player win is no stranger to Monaghan. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the PGA TOUR's Latin America Tour.
"Our investment in the PGA TOUR Latin America, as Latin American players enter the PGA Tour and succeed, has had a substantial impact on people's consumer enthusiasm and interest in golf," Monaghan said. ”
"We've got great players and I think it's not only going to serve this event, but just as importantly, it's going to serve the sport and create a huge amount of energy. Joaquin is one of many players who will help inspire future generations to continue to participate in the sport. ”
In addition to developing the tournament in Latin America, the PGA Tour expects its strategic alliance with the DP World Tour to have an impact overseas. Monaghan was asked about potential discussions about the Valdela Stadium, a highly lauded stadium in Spain that will host a jointly certified event for the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, led by CEO Keith Pali and deputy CEO Guy Kinnings.
"We acquired a 15% stake in the European Tour productions company, so we've been focused on supporting the work of the media business," Monaghan said, "and in that regard, the DP World Tour has tremendous energy." You've seen us contribute on the business side through a number of partners, with Horizon recently becoming the title sponsor of the Irish Open. There is tremendous support behind the DP World Tour. ”
"As we work closer together... What we can do as a tour, and then what we can do together, the possibilities are really, really exciting. While I can't talk about the val-Delama specifics, obviously it's a great championship golf course and I know Keith, Guy and their team have great aspirations for what we continue to do there. ”