By Alex Myers
The Players has the biggest purse in all of golf. At least, for now.

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported over the weekend the PGA Tour’s flagship event had increased its total prize money by $1.5 million to a whopping $12.5 million. According to Hoggard, PGA Tour pros were alerted to this change during the Farmers Insurance Open.

Not that any added motivation was needed to play in the event. After a $500,000 increase to the purse last year, the tournament unofficially known as the fifth men’s major championship was already tied for the second-richest event in golf at $11 million. But the Players, which has moved from May to March for the foreseeable future, currently has a bigger payout than all four actual majors, including the U.S. Open’s $12 million offering.

We say “for now” because the four major championships usually announce any changes to prize money the week of their tournament.

Last year, Players winner Webb Simpson’s share of the $11 million was $1.98 million, while Brooks Koepka took home $2.16 million of the $12 million U.S. Open purse. Based on the same formula of 18 per cent going to the winner, this year’s Players champ will earn $2.25 million.

The post 2019 Players Championship: The Players increases purse, has a bigger payout than all four majors (For now) appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Troy Merritt won the Barbasol Championship on July 23. Ten days later, the 32-year-old was in the hospital, undergoing emergency surgery.

Per Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, Merritt had been experiencing arm pain for the past month. Following last week’s RBC Canadian Open, the two-time tour winner flew to his native Idaho. While at home he received an ultrasound test, which disclosed a blood clot that ran from his chest to biceps. Merritt was promptly scheduled for surgery.

The operation, which lasted two hours, was deemed a success, according to Hoggard.

Amazingly, Merritt still plans on playing in next week’s PGA Championship at Bellerive.

“I plan on making the trip, and see how my body does each day,” Merritt told the Golf Channel. “I’m still planning on teeing it up come Thursday morning, but have not and may not get much practice in before Thursday.”

Merritt said he made need another surgery to remove a rib to prevent further clotting. He will need to receive blood-thinning injections, and his arm remains swollen.

Merritt will be making his third career PGA Championship start and just his fifth major appearance. He is currently 69th in the FedEx Cup standings.

The post Report: Troy Merritt undergoes emergency surgery for blood clot appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Led by Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders, those teeing off in succession at Bay Hill’s driving range on Wednesday were all asked to do their best imitation of Arnie’s famed follow-through. Check it out:

And here’s another angle from Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard:

Ceremonial tee shots at Bay Hill. pic.twitter.com/0dMEWjsU9R

— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) March 14, 2018

Nicely done, everyone. But for our money, we’re going with Brandt Snedeker as the player who copied Palmer’s move best.

Arnold Palmer died on Sept. 25, 2016, at 87. This is the second year that the golf legend’s PGA Tour event is being played without him. In addition to this group ceremonial opening tee shot becoming a tournament tradition, the winner of the event also gets an “Arnie’s Army” red cardigan in Palmer’s honour

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