[Golf Topic] The Players, the 'Fifth Major': "Next Year's Total Prize Money a Whopping 24 Billion Won?"

This year's winner of the "Fifth Major," The Players Championship, Justin Thomas. Las Vegas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○..."The total prize money is a whopping 20 million dollars (24 billion won)."

The PGA Tour in the United States, known as the "5th Major," The Players Championship, will significantly expand its scale next year. On the 12th (Korean time), the Golf Channel in the U.S. reported, "The total prize money for The Players 2022 is set at 20 million dollars," adding, "This is the largest prize money ever." This means an increase of 5 million dollars from this year's 15 million dollars. The winner's prize money will also increase from 2.7 million dollars to 3.6 million dollars (4.31 billion won).

The PGA Tour is making special efforts to elevate this tournament to a major, living up to its nickname as a "festival for players." Established in 1974, in 1982 the PGA Tour headquarters chose Sawgrass TPC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA (par 72, 7,189 yards) as the venue, adding symbolic significance. In 2006, together with world-renowned course designer Pete Dye (USA), they invested 40 million dollars (47.92 billion won) to complete a major course renewal.

Expanding the playoff in 2014 to three holes (holes 16-18 combined score), the same as the PGA Championship, was in a similar vein. The honors for the champion are also exceptional. They receive a PGA Tour card for 5 years (2 years for the regular tour), 80 world ranking points, and 600 FedEx Cup points, the same as a major. There are also thrilling rewards such as invitations to the Masters, US Open, and The Open for 3 years, and a ticket to that year's PGA Championship. The Golf Channel introduced that "from the 2022 season, a bonus of 50,000 dollars will be awarded at a minimum of 15 tournaments."

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