The tip is nigh for a lot of PGA Tour gamers. Not actually The Finish, capital T capital E. However the finish of 2023 is closing in. Solely three tournaments stay and the chase for ending within the high 125 is tight. There’s that competitors, after which one other one simply to get into these tournaments.

That is high-stakes stuff, and the blokes are taking it severely. (You may guess there might be some scoffing at Michael Block’s sponsor’s exemption into the ultimate race of this circuit, on the RSM Basic.) Gamers on the skin wanting in attempting to maintain their Tour membership will be taught their destiny quickly sufficient. Both they held on or they didn’t, they usually’ll must work their means again to the juicy purses and the great life a technique or one other.

However out of the blue these gamers have choices. There’s the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf. Every has its perks and every comes with distinctive dangers. However for the primary time ever, all of them really feel accessible to those that drop off from the PGA Tour. 

However which place is true for which participant? Gamers like Harry Higgs, Aaron Sensible and Adam Lengthy would earn conditional Tour standing if the season ended as we speak. However somebody like Doc Redman wouldn’t. Lanto Griffin, Grayson Murray, Dylan Frittelli, Jason Dufner — all these names should resolve how they wish to transfer ahead. There’s the Monday Qualifying route, or the fixed pursuit of sponsor’s exemptions, however neither indicate a lot consistency. 

As a substitute of that, there are the opposite choices, one among which was introduced this week when the DP World Tour stated gamers who end 126th by way of 2 hundredth within the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup can achieve membership (if they need it) on the tour performed predominantly abroad. That’s a giant alternative — if somebody needs to take it. We think about all of it under. 

If you happen to’re a Tour participant who simply misplaced their card… the place do you have to go subsequent?

Korn Ferry Tour 

Professionals: The KFT is totally the PGA Tour minor league. Double-A Golf, if you’ll. And that’s an awesome factor to be. The gamers are excellent, and there are numerous of them, identical to the massive present. The host programs are unfold out throughout America and are related in nature to what chances are you’ll discover on the PGA Tour. There’s consolation there. For the American golfer, born and raised on parkland programs largely performed at sea stage, that is the golf you already know. 

The highest 30 gamers from the Korn Ferry Tour graduate to the PGA Tour, which implies a wholesome sliver of the gamers competing in a full KFT schedule transfer up. The healthiest sliver, if we’re evaluating excursions right here. Being twenty ninth greatest out there may be a lot ok.

Cons: BUT, it’s a bit extra cutthroat. The cash is worse, comparatively. The everyday Korn Ferry Tour purse in 2024 might be $1,000,000. It’s truthful to anticipate that quantity to extend sooner or later, however for now winner’s checks come out to $180,000. A barely totally different success story of beating, say, 145 different excellent professionals — ending tenth — brings in one thing round $25,000. There’s more cash to be discovered elsewhere. And commencement, if it occurs, doesn’t essentially imply taking part in each PGA Tour occasion you need. KFT grads truly get slotted behind DP World Tour grads on the precedence listing.

Threat: Little or no. Maybe the largest danger just isn’t taking a danger? Staying within the consolation zone. One other theoretical danger exists in a single looming facet of all golf careers: If 2024 is the very best golf season of your life, the KFT is the least-profitable place (on this train) to play that unbelievable golf. 

DP World Tour

Professionals: You’ll journey the world like by no means earlier than. This is probably not as fascinating to skilled golfers — lots of whom think about journey a nagging a part of the gig — as it could appear for the amateurs studying this story. However this sort of journey is wildly totally different. The DP World Tour brings you from Dubai to Bahrain to Kenya to South Africa, and that’s simply January and February. You’d go to 5 totally different continents and 22 totally different nations over the course of the season. Consider what you’d be taught. Consider the meals you’d discover. Consider the golf programs you’d play! The recollections you’d make.

Comparatively, the cash is fairly good. The everyday DP World Tour purse fluctuates within the $1.5 to $2.5 million vary. In different phrases, at the very least twice the purses of the Korn Ferry Tour. Taking part in your greatest golf might be extra worthwhile right here.

Cons: Solely 5 gamers from this newly created class can play in a weekly DP World Tour occasion, however for this observe we’re assuming you possibly can nonetheless put collectively a fascinating schedule. Regardless, the trail to success right here is tougher. DataGolf, the business’s main analytics website, would let you know that greater than a dozen DP World Tour occasions boast fields more durable to beat than the strongest KFT subject. The extent of golf goes to be larger and the number of programs wider. Does that scare you? Solely 10 gamers graduate from the DP World Tour to the PGA Tour within the present setup. The tenth qualifier at this precise second: Marcel Siem, ranked No. 154 on this planet by DataGolf. Are you able to beat Marcel Siem in a season-long competitors?

Additionally, you’re (in all probability) a good distance from house. Taking every week off to journey again for Mother’s birthday (for Individuals, at the very least) means flying eight to 10 to 14 hours, one-way. You’ll make an analogous commute whenever you head again out on tour. Holding a relationship robust and regular could be examined in a serious means. However for a golfer who is single? The thoughts wanders…

Threat: Life would change in a very avoidable means. Are you prepared for that? Does somebody (your companion) wish to be a part of you alongside the best way? Possibly that’ll consolation issues. Any monetary danger is actually taken off the desk, too, due to the DP World Tour’s new Earnings Assurance Program, which ensures those that play 15 occasions a minimal “wage” of $150,000. Bills can pile up on the highway, however $150,000 is often the quantity it takes to fund a full season of top-level professional golf. You’re taking part in golf with home cash! 

LIV Golf 

Professionals: Have you ever heard concerning the cash? You positive have. LIV Golf guarantees thousands and thousands upon thousands and thousands. BIG cash. Cash greater than most experts on this dilemma have ever performed for. And one factor we’ve realized within the final 18 months is that the majority professionals play with cash high of thoughts.

When you’re on a crew, you’re in. You’ve received 14 occasions, none of which battle with the foremost championships. You may qualify for the U.S. and British Opens identical to 1000’s of others will attempt to and LIV Golf would embrace it. 

Cons: The place the cash comes from is the ethical debate many professionals have pressured themselves to have during the last 18 months. That’s Saudi Arabia, which brings with it a laundry listing of questions each participant within the league faces at one level or one other. These questions aren’t as tough as they had been 18 months in the past, however they exist. 

Additionally, your schedule is ready. Have an essential wedding ceremony you possibly can’t miss that conflicts with LIV Australia? Sorry, however you signed up for all 14 occasions, no excuses. Ship a pleasant card. 

Threat: At this level, there isn’t as a lot as there was once, when defectors had been being suspended. Fame-wise, there’s a little bit of a PR battle that LIV Golf and its backers proceed to work by way of. Associating your golf with them is voluntary. Some folks discover that act simpler than others. 

The way forward for professional golf continues to be being negotiated, and your path to the highest of it doesn’t actually run by way of LIV Golf. That’s an even bigger danger for some than it’s for others. There are not any apparent methods to qualify for majors through LIV Golf. The Harold Varners of the world are going to have to do this the onerous means, at the very least proper now. Varner himself is enriched by the cash and what he can do with it. He’s not alone. Scott Vincent made $4.6 million in 2023 taking part in some extremely nameless golf. His two full seasons on the DP World Tour resulted in slightly below $360,000. 

What’s our suggestion? 

Go East, younger man! If you may make it work, tackle the DP World Tour for all it affords. There’s a transparent path again to the PGA Tour by taking a full season on the DP World Tour. Play nicely sufficient and also you’ll have deserved it. Don’t fairly play nicely sufficient, you possibly can attempt the KFT subsequent. Or you possibly can grow to be a DP World-lifer! The home cash of the Earnings Assurance Program needs to be liberating. The country-hopping might be a priceless, unforgettable journey. And if it leads you again to the place you had been, you’ll be higher due to this golfy research overseas program. As long as you possibly can clarify the choice to family and friends!

Which route would you’re taking? The writer welcomes your feedback, issues, and another notes at sean.zak@golf.com.