KPGA Tour in Crisis Breaks Through System
KPGA Tour in Crisis Breaks Through System
Blog Article
The Korea Professional Golfers Association (KPGA) is striving to overcome the crisis in a new way. The KPGA tour plans to change the overall system to revitalize the tour. The number of KPGA tour championships this year is 20, down two from last year's 22. The figure is the lowest since the 17th event in 2021. However, the KPGA focused on strengthening the internal stability rather than external appearance in order to make a head-on breakthrough in the crisis situation. This is evidenced by the various changes that the KPGA tour is attempting to make in the 2025 season.
The most noticeable change is the revision of the PACE of PLAY regulations. In line with the speed-up trend that is spreading around the world, a new standard for managing excessive shot time (EST) has been introduced. A maximum of 70 seconds is given for the first stroke and 60 seconds for the subsequent stroke. Generally, the allowable time per stroke is 40 seconds, and the additional 10 seconds is allowed for the first player in a specific situation such as par 3 tee shots, green approaches, chip shots, and putts.
Existing regulations could only be sanctioned if an entire group was later than the set time. This allowed slow players to avoid sanctions if their companions were faster. However, with the introduction of EST, slow players will be monitored individually and immediately warned or punished with a "bad time" decision when the time goes by. The average round time of KPGA last year was 4 hours and 35 minutes, and this year's goal is 4 hours and 25 minutes, which is 10 minutes shorter.
It will also streamline the way in which games are operated. The committee will introduce eight single-seat "SINGLE" golf carts. The carts can travel within fairways, allowing athletes to move faster while avoiding galleries. As a result, athletes can approach the location more quickly, thereby minimizing delays.
Strengthening competency of athletes commissioners is another core task. The committee runs various programs including training on golf rules, course setting, and safety management through attending international conferences and holding seminars. Given that a growing number of former KPGA tour players are going overseas recently, it is critical to strengthen competency to manage competitions that meet international standards.
Weather management will also be more systematic. The KPGA will collaborate with a specialized weather agency to introduce a weather monitoring system in earnest. Through this, the KPGA can proactively respond to weather variables such as delays, suspension of competition, and cancellation of rounds, and facilitate schedule coordination with sponsors and broadcasters. At the same time, it is expected to contribute to securing the safety of athletes and galleries.
The government will also refine the basic framework of the tour. Since last year, the government has raised the standard of total prize money for each tournament and introduced a minimum prize money system to improve the treatment of players. Starting this year, a new category will be launched in which the top 20 players in the KPGA tour's total prize money rankings are given a seed. It can be used only once, and the validity of a seed is one year. The first beneficiary is Kim Dae-hyun, a slugger.
The team will also expand exchanges with overseas tours. The team will cooperate with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to increase opportunities for KPGA players to advance to overseas markets. The player who ranks first in Genesis points will receive a direct ticket to the final qualifying round of the PGA Tour and a one-year seed for the DP World Tour. The top two players will be given the right to play at the Genesis Scottish Open, while the second and third players will be given the seed for the DP World Tour. The team will also have an opportunity to play in the Asian Tour International Series. It will provide practical motivation for top-ranked players. 바카라
Efforts will also be made to create a fan-friendly environment. KPGA directly operates four to five competitions on a trial basis and builds a ticket sales system. It secures customer data by analyzing gallery propensity and lays the foundation for targeted marketing by utilizing the data. On-site participation factors such as events and prizes will also be strengthened.
In the future, the company plans to introduce an online ticket issuance system and a season ticket system in connection with portal sites. A team dedicated to selling souvenirs will be set up to produce related products such as clothes and hats. The company will also expand its social network service (SNS) channel and continue to introduce contents that show the charms of KPGA players on YouTube and other websites.