Despite eight weeks remaining in 2022, which means the PGA Tour's Player Impact Program (PIP) is still open, Rory McIlroy has taken it upon himself to let the world know that the race is over. Instead of waiting until the allotted time for the 2022 PIP to run its course, Rory finds a way tol make this about himself by spoiling the results early.
Now, as I announced on the Technically Golf Podcast, I am going into the 2023 golf season completely without bias when it comes to the PGA Tour and LIV. Clean slate, giving both a fair chance. HOWEVER, as I type this out, my calendar still reads 2022, so here we are...
Rory had quite the year for himself in 2022. It started off a little rough as he was in contention to win the Dubai Desert Classic but found some water on the final hole and missed out on a playoff by one stroke. Buuuut...then in April at Augusta National, he carded a bogey-free 64 in the final round to catapult him from ninth place to finish runner-up at the Masters. Second place isn't bad you guys! He then goes on to defend his title at the RBC Canadian Open, comes in third behind Champion Cameron Smith (of the Punch GC) at The Open and ends the major season with top-10 finishes in each one. Hey, top 10's aren't bad you guys! In August, he wins his third Tour Championship and successfully defends at the CJ Cup in October launching him up to No. 1 in the world, as per the compromised Official World Golf Rankings.
It's estimated he earned just over $40 million on the year, which I'm sure he gave away to lesser known players since the PGA Tour is all about the legacy, the trophies, the integrity and not about making money. Don't even have to look into it, I'm POSITIVE he did this. INTEGRITY!
His name and face were also plastered EVERYWHERE on the internet, in the news, and on tv due to his never relenting perseverance to talk about LIV every chance he got. As we know, the PIP takes this type of thing into account.
2022 PIP winner Tiger Woods on the other hand....
He finished 47th at The Masters, withdrew from the PGA Championship and missed the cut at the Open Championship (which Cam Smith, of the Punch GC, won). He got into a car accident and he caddied for his son in a tournament for kids.
He will be rewarded a whopping $15 million for this. Keep in mind, the PGA Tour is all about integrity, legacy and trophies. Not money. Since the PIP has been instituted in 2021, as a good faith measure from Jay Monahan and definitely not a desperate, reactive way to pay players more and keep them from defecting to LIV, Tiger has swept the podium. Despite hardly playing any golf whatsoever, Tiger wins the PIP in 2021 and 2022 making him the only player to ever win it. Player Impact Program sounds more like the Tiger Woods Legacy fund to me, but what do I know!
So, there you have it. The "World's No. 1" comes in second place to a player ranked No. 1245 as per the compromised OWGR, who hardly played golf at all and when he did play he didn't play well. No wonder he declined the money from LIV, why play in 8 events when you can play in almost none and still get PAID. Good on him, well done Tiger.
P.S. Hey Jay, you might want to consider some changes to the PIP in 2023. Such as, oh...I don't know...just off the top of my head, awarding the money to people who actually PLAY golf on your precious tour.