Orlando, Florida – Arnold Palmer’s invitational will have fewer ads and more emphasis on data and player-Cardi Interactive, part of a pilot program recognized by major sponsors.
It will gain brand visibility through various graphics in the broadcast, rather than MasterCard (protected sponsors), rather than having 30 seconds of ads that show facts and statistics from rankings to players.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the move was another response to a survey of about 50,000 “fan forwards” that showed what innovations they wanted to see on the radio and on the golf course.
This has resulted in more player interviews during the game – known as “walking and talking along the fairway”) and fewer shots without real consequences.
The tour said hearing more conversations between players and caddies was one of the highest responses to casual and core fan surveys, and more data was shown through certain lenses.
“We heard from fans that they want to see more player interactions, they want to see more data, they want to know more data, they want to learn more,” he said. “Well, they will become uninterrupted, they won’t be able to filter, which will make them a little internal or internal real-time sc.
“It’s a real honor to think of the presence they have on the broadcast, the business burden, adjusting and doing something they really like.”
Monahan said the tour has not been contacted with other tournament sponsors yet, but depending on the situation, “it may lead to more.”
Amid this year’s changes, especially on the radio, layoffs were conducted on Friday around the story. This was a great example when Joe Highsmith made a 5-foot par putt on his last hole for layoffs last week.
It was followed by the weekend of 64-64, becoming the first player in nine years to advance to that number and continue to win.
Bay Hill is one of three signature events, with 72 players in the field having 36 hole cuts. Monahan said there was no discussion on adding 36 hole cuts to the other five signature events, although he was not excluded.
As for other innovations, Monahan said the Player Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss possible changes to the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship.
The trip is looking for a format that includes some form of bracketing, even if it does not include the race. Again, what is being considered is to restore the Tour Championship to a separate trophy from the one that won the FedEx Cup.
It is unclear whether the PAC (ultimately the PGA Tour board) can agree on the tour tournament in the last week of August.
“I can’t say if this will definitely happen, but it’s a goal,” Monaghan said. “We’re going to make sure we react to fans, the actions the players themselves believe in and advocate for, before we make any changes. That’s why it could be a longer process than you think.”
He did not provide updates related to negotiations on public investment funds for supporters of rival Liv Golf. Last month, Monahan, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott met with PIF Governors Donald Trump and Yasir al-Rumayyan, focusing on unifying the best players on the golf course.
Monahan said in a Fan Forward survey that 70% said they wanted to see the benefits of golf uniformity, while 32% wanted to see PIF invested in PGA Tour Enterprises.
The PGA Tour held the player championship next week at TPC Sawgrass, while Liv Golf resumed its schedule this week in Hong Kong and next week in Singapore. This is increasingly unlikely for any trade by the Master.
