The PGA Tour’s 2023 Player Impact Program results have been published, and there is a new man on top taking home the $15 million first prize.

• Related: The reason behind Azinger’s NBC exit as his replacement for Hero World Challenge is revealed

On Wednesday evening, PGA Tour pro Nate Lashley took to Instagram to share a memo sent to players by executive vice president and chief player officer Jason Gore.

The memo shows that Rory McIlroy is this year’s big winner, taking the top spot and pushing last year’s victor, Tiger Woods, down to second place.

Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler make up the rest of the top five, with all three pocketing over $5 million from the program.

 

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A post shared by Nathan Lashley (@nlashley001)

While posting the image of the memo, Lashley sounded off on social media, declaring that the world’s top player’s receiving the big bonuses is “an absolute kick in the face to the rest of the PGA Tour players.”

The 2024 program will see $50 million paid to the top 10 players, as opposed to this year’s $100 million to the top 20 players.

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On Wednesday, rumors of PGA Tour superstar Jon Rahm joining LIV Golf once again resurfaced.

• Related: The reason behind Azinger’s NBC exit as his replacement for Hero World Challenge is revealed

The rumors stemmed from a Spanish speaking podcast called “Ten Golf” who indicated that talk of Rahm joining LIV was rampant at last week’s DP World Tour Championship.

Rahm has long been discussed as a potential fit for LIV due to his relationship with Sergio Garcia and his desire to play global golf.

The afternoon saw X ablaze with speculation, and Alan Shipnuck, who’s the author of “LIV and Let Die”, shared that he’d been told Phil Mickelson was telling people that Rahm to LIV was a “done deal”.

“In recent days Phil has been telling folks that Rahm signing with LIV is a done deal. (They share the same agent.) But we all know Mickelson is a relentless salesman/bullshit artist, so take that for what it’s worth.”

In recent days Phil has been telling folks that Rahm signing with LIV is a done deal. (They share the same agent.) But we all know Mickelson is a relentless salesman/bullshit artist, so take that for what it's worth.

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) November 22, 2023

Over the weekend, it was announced that NBC has not renewed the contract for lead golf analyst, Paul Azinger.

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“With the golf and media landscapes now in a more challenging environment, Azinger and NBC will part ways as their current contract ends,” said Azinger’s agent Rich Braund in a statement.

Sports Illustrated learned that the negotiations reportedly fell apart between Azinger and NBC when the one-year extension Azinger received was for less than he was making previously.

NBC also released a statement about Azinger.

“We want to thank Paul for his work with us over the last five years. His insights, work ethic and relationships in the golf industry are well known, and we appreciate what he brought to our team. We wish Paul the best in his future endeavors.”

On Monday, Sports Illustrated shared that Azinger will be replaced at next week’s Hero World Challenge by Curt Byrum. Byrum is a former PGA Tour player and has been an analyst for the Golf Channel since 2001.

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