The PIP, introduced in 2021, was designed to reward players who generate the most interest in the PGA Tour, with metrics such as Google searches, news article mentions and social media reach taken into account.

Rory McIlroy has edged Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour’s $15m prize for generating the most public and media interest this year.

McIlroy pipped the 15-time major winner to top spot on the tour’s ‘Player Impact Programme’ (PIP). Woods won it in 2021 and 2022 despite his injury-hit playing schedule.

McIlroy takes top spot for the first time two weeks after saying “something had to give” when he resigned from the tour’s Policy Board.

The PIP, introduced in 2021, was designed to reward players who generate the most interest in the PGA Tour, with metrics such as Google searches, news article mentions and social media reach taken into account.

McIlroy, who finished second to Woods in 2022, tops the PIP list after capturing his fifth DP World Tour Race to Dubai title earlier this month. Woods earns $12m for finishing second.

34-year-old McIlroy was unable to defend his FedEx Cup title on the PGA Tour, however, finishing fourth behind Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark, who also denied McIlroy a fifth major title at the US Open in June.

Masters winner Jon Rahm earns $9m for finishing third, with three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and world number one Scottie Scheffler rounding out the top five. England’s Tommy Fleetwood collected $5m for finishing tied seventh alongside Hovland, Justin Thomas and Max Homa.

Next year, the Player Impact Programme’s bonus pool will be $50m between the top 10 players, a change from the $100m that was awarded to the top 20 this year.

The Player Impact Program formula includes a somewhat-vague mixture of internet searches, earned media (unique articles), TV sponsor exposure, general population awareness and golf fan awareness, according to Golf.com. Here is a look at the golfers who finished in the top 20 of the program this year and earned a minimum of $2 million.

The details were leaked by fellow Tour player Nate Lashley who called the concept “a little ridiculous.”

On Instagram. he posted: “How many golf fans actually know what the PIP on the PGA Tour is? Would love to hear from golf/PGA fans if they think this $100 million was spent well? There’s 150-200 members of the PGA Tour, and they just spent $100 million on 20 players. Seems a little ridiculous. Time for new leadership on the PGA Tour. This is an absolute kick in the face to the rest of the PGA Tour players.”

Woods (47) will return to action this week after seven months out in the Hero World Challenge, an event he hosts in the Bahamas, having recovered from ankle surgery.

Woods and McIlroy are also fronting a new virtual golf competition called TGL, the start date for which was pushed back one year to early 2025, after its facility in Florida sustained serious damage after a power outage.