World number two Rory McIlroy has outshone Tiger Woods to claim the coveted $15 million prize in the PGA Tour's Player Impact Programme (PIP) for 2023. The Northern Irish golfer secured the top spot on the PIP, surpassing the 15-time major winner, who had clinched the title in both 2021 and 2022 despite his injury-plagued playing schedule.
McIlroy's ascent to the pinnacle of the PIP comes just two weeks after he made headlines by resigning from the tour's Policy Board, emphasizing that "something had to give." The Player Impact Programme, introduced in 2021, aims to reward players who generate the most interest in the PGA Tour, taking into account metrics such as Google searches, news mentions, and social media reach.
The 34-year-old McIlroy, who finished as the runner-up to Woods in 2022, secured his spot at the top of the PIP list after clinching his fifth DP World Tour Race to Dubai title earlier in the month. Woods, earning $12 million, settled for second place.
While McIlroy couldn't defend his FedEx Cup title on the PGA Tour, finishing fourth behind Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, and Wyndham Clark, he managed to hold off challenges for the top spot in the PIP.
Masters winner Jon Rahm secured $9 million for finishing third, with Jordan Spieth and world number one Scottie Scheffler rounding out the top five.
In the lower ranks of the PIP, England's Tommy Fleetwood collected $5 million for finishing tied seventh alongside Hovland, Justin Thomas, and Max Homa.
Looking ahead, the PGA Tour has announced changes to the Player Impact Programme, with the bonus pool reduced to $50 million for the top 10 players next year, compared to the $100 million awarded to the top 20 this year.
As Tiger Woods prepares for his return to action after a seven-month hiatus due to ankle surgery, he and McIlroy are also set to lead a new virtual golf competition called TGL. The competition's start date has been delayed until early 2025, following facility damage in Florida caused by a power outage. The Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas marks Woods' return to competitive play this week, an event he hosts.
