Tiger Woods ex coach: PGA Tour pros "ought to thank" LIV Golf in 2023

Tiger Woods' former golf coach Butch Harmon believes PGA Tour players "ought to thank" LIV Golf as a result of the inflated prize purses they are all playing for in 2023. 

Following the emergence of LIV Golf last summer, the PGA Tour acted ahead of the new 2022-23 season by introducing a new 'Elevated Events' program whereby the best players on the PGA Tour are now playing for huge purses and end-of-year rewards. 

Here's all you need to know about the new 'Elevated Events' on the PGA Tour. 

For the 2022-23 season, all fully exempt tour players who compete in 15 tournaments will be guaranteed to earn $500,000 through the creation of the Earnings Assurance Program.

This money will be paid up front, with the players drawing against it during the season from their earnings. 

Players who come up short of earning $500,000 will be paid the difference by the Tour at the end of the season. 

This was all done in a bid to keep hold of its leading lights on the PGA Tour such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay. 

And given the Saudi-bankrolled golf league has failed to acquire any of the PGA Tour's major players ahead of its new LIV Golf League schedule getting underway next week, you would have to say the move has worked.

But Harmon, who coached Woods from 1993 through to 2002 helping him win eight major championships along the way, considers the best players on the PGA Tour must say a big thank you to those at LIV Golf, who have transformed the financial landscape on Tour in 2023. 

Speaking on the Five Clubs podcast, Harmon said: 

Did you know? Harmon once called Woods an "arrogant pr**k"

A report emerged earlier today how Woods is doing everything he can to compete in next week's Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. 

Woods has not competed in a regular PGA Tour event since his car crash in February 2021.