Tiger Woods is capturing PGA honors despite last competing in a tour event more than a year ago, his prolonged absence caused by an auto accident that left him with serious injuries.
The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that Woods will receive the $8 million top prize by winning the inaugural Player Impact Program, which measures the player who generated the most positive interest in the PGA Tour in 2021.
Phil Mickelson, who won last year’s PGA Championship at age 50, will pocket $6 million for finishing second. This comes after Mickelson announced prematurely on Twitter on Dec. 29 that he had won the program.
“I’d like to thank all the crazies (and real supporters too) for…………………Helping me win the PiP!!” Mickelson wrote.
I’d like to thank all the crazies (and real supporters too) for…………………
Helping me win the PiP!!
To get the 2nd half of the money I have to add an event I haven’t played in awhile. See you in Kapalua?? ?????????????
P.S. I’ll try and find another hot controversial topic soon??— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) December 29, 2021
Rory McIlroy finished third, followed by Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. The quartet will receive $3.5 million, while Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Bubba Watson each will collect $3 million bonuses for finishing seventh-10th.
The program is determined by using five metrics: internet searches, earned media (unique news articles that include a player’s name), social media score, television sponsor exposure and awareness.
Woods, 46, won the program despite last playing an official PGA Tour event in the 2020 Masters. The 15-time major winner’s only 2021 tournament came in December at the 36-hole PNC Championship with his son, Charlie.
As for Mickelson, his 2022 is off to a rocky start. Controversial comments he made about a proposed super league reportedly being funded by Saudi Arabia have stained his legacy and caused a number of corporate sponsors to end their partnerships. Amstel Light and KPMG cut ties with him, Workday said it won’t renew their deal and Callaway put the relationship on hold.
Mickelson no longer will host The American Express tournament, and his foundation won’t be the charitable arm of the event. In a statement last month, he said he intends to take a break from competitive golf.
–Field Level Media
