The chief executive of the R&A has warned the golfing community that steps must be taken to halt potentially unsustainable growth in prize money at elite events. Martin Slumbers’ comments come amid news that this year’s Troon Open will pay the winner $3.1m (£2.38m) from a $17m prize pool.
These figures are the highest in the Open’s history and follow the Royal Liverpool Stadium’s allocation of $16.5 million in 2023.
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Slimbles, however, is uneasy about the direction the sport is heading. “The R&A has a responsibility to strike a balance between maintaining the Open’s place in the global game, providing the funding needed for governance and developing amateur and recreational golf in 146 countries internationally,” he said.
“If we are to continue to build on the significant growth in participation, then we must make choices that are vital to the future of golf. We remain concerned about what a significant increase in men’s professional prize money will do to the sport and its long-term financial sustainability In pursuing our goal of ensuring golf continues to thrive 50 years from now, we are determined to act in the interests of the global game.
Several PGA Tour events currently have prize purses of up to $20 million, a move partly to fend off the threat from the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. Golfers who compete on the LIV Tour typically receive an individual first prize of $4 million as well as team bonuses.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the public was discouraged from attending games due to perceived financial vulgarity. In some cases, players joining LIV paid signing fees in excess of $100 million.
