Rory on TOUR changes: When I watch Buccaneers, I expect to see Brady

Rory McIlroy made an apt comparison after the PGA TOUR unveiled several changes for the 2023 season emphasizing commitment from its top players.

"I think if you're trying to sell a product to TV and to sponsors and to try to get as many eyeballs on professional golf as possible, you need to at least let people know what they're tuning in for," he said, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

"When I tune into a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, I expect to see Tom Brady throw a football. When I tune into a Formula 1 race, I expect to see Lewis Hamilton in a car."

Beginning next season, players ranked inside the top 20 will commit to participate in a minimum of 20 tournaments, including 12 elevated events that will boast average purses of $20 million, the four major championships, The Players Championship, and three other events of their choosing.

"Sometimes what's happened on the PGA TOUR is we all act independently, and we sort of have our own schedules, and that means that we never really get together all that often," McIlroy said.

The lucrative changes come shortly after a meeting led by McIlroy and Tiger Woods aimed to strengthen the TOUR's product in response to pressure from LIV Golf.

"We've all made a commitment to get together more often to make the product more compelling," McIlroy said. "I don't have a crystal ball, but I think everyone in that room felt this was the best way to move forward."

McIlroy and Woods launched their own company, TMRW Sports, on Tuesday. The high-profile pair also announced the creation of TGL, a new tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR, on Wednesday.