Woods "Ranks No.1 in PIP"..."96 Billion Won Jackpot While Playing?"

PGA Tour $40 Million Popularity Ranking: Deftly 1st, Mickelson 2nd, McIlroy 3rd

Tiger Woods received the spotlight after finishing as the runner-up at the family team event, the PNC Championship, last December with his son Charlie, following a long rehabilitation.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "An $8 million (9.6 billion KRW) jackpot while playing."

The 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods has ranked first in the PGA Tour's Player Impact Program (PIP). On the 3rd (Korean time), Golf Channel USA introduced it as "Woods 1st, Mickelson 2nd." This is the so-called 'popularity bonus' newly introduced by the PGA Tour this year. Regardless of performance, it is based on five criteria over one year: Google search volume, media coverage, individual social media followers, TV broadcast exposure, and Q Score points used by promotional marketing firms.

Although Woods stepped away from the PGA Tour after the 2020 Masters, he remains at the center of the news. After a car rollover accident following the Genesis Invitational last February, he was bedridden for three months and underwent long-term treatment and rehabilitation with a wheelchair and crutches. In December, he participated in the family team PNC Championship with his son Charlie, drawing even more spotlight. It was a 'two-person scramble' event where each player tees off and the next shot is played from the better position, and they finished as runners-up.

Phil Mickelson (both from the USA) took second place ($6 million / 7.2 billion KRW). Last May, he made new history as the 'oldest major champion (50 years and 11 months)' at the 103rd PGA Championship, and in January, he challenged for the 2022 season opener, the Sentry Tournament, for the first time in 21 years, aiming for the 'PIP 1st place' but ultimately could not surpass Woods. Recently, after supporting the Saudi Arabia-led Super Golf League (SGL), he faced opposition not only from the US media but also from other players, putting him in a difficult position.

It is interesting that PIP is an 'SGL effect.' The prize pool is $40 million (48.2 billion KRW), increasing to a whopping $50 million (60.2 billion KRW) next year. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka (all USA), Jon Rahm (Spain), and Bubba Watson all rank 3rd to 10th, each receiving $3.5 million (420 million KRW). Next-generation golf stars like 'Playoff (PO) Champion' Patrick Cantlay (USA) are naturally dissatisfied, emphasizing that "performance is important."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.