The PGA Tour got a bit stronger over the weekend, as both Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau released statements saying they’re both sticking with the tour and eschewing the much-ballyhooed rival Saudi Arabia-backed Super Golf League (SGL).
“While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding my support for another tour, I want to make it very clear that as long as the best players in the world are playing the PGA Tour, so will I,” DeChambeau wrote. “As of now, I am focused on getting myself healthy and competing again soon. I appreciate all the support.”
The two, as well as golf legend Phil Mickelson, have been rumored to be some top names to potentially join the SGL. The league says it’s willing to pay enormous amounts of guaranteed money to attract some of golf’s biggest names to compete with the PGA Tour.
“Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of speculation about an alternative tour; much of which seems to have included me and my future in professional golf,” Johnson said. “I feel it is now time to put such speculation to rest. I am fully committed to the PGA Tour. I am grateful for the opportunity to play the best tour in the world and for all it has provided me and my family.”
Mickelson recently has been dominating SGL headlines, saying that he’s spearheading the proposed league and noting how he hopes to use the rival league as leverage over the Tour.
The PGA Tour responded by increasing official prize money to $427 million, upping its FedEx Cup bonus money to $75 million, and creating additional programs that will pay millions more. The PGA Tour will pay out more than $838 million in player comprehensive earnings this season.
