The DP World Tour have released a statement announcing a new Earnings Assurance Program to be introduced for the 2023 season, with athletes who compete in 15 or more events are guaranteed $150,000 minimum earnings.

Also announced in the statement is a minimum of 39 tournaments on the 2023 Tour season, across 26 different countries, as well as a record prize amount of $144.2 million across the tournaments, and a bonus pool of $6 million for the top eight athletes on the DP World Tour Rankings.

This larger prize pool and the new minimum earnings program was made possible thanks to an operational joint venture partnership between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour made in June.

Commenting on the announcement, DP World Tour chief executive, Keith Pelley, said: “for us to be able to offer our members record prize funds and enhanced earning opportunities is massive, particularly when global economies are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and with the new challenge of rising inflation significantly putting pressure on costs in all facets of our business.”

“Our overall prize fund for the 2023 season represents $50 million more than 2021 and also underlines the strength of our partnership with the PGA Tour, who are working with us to drive revenue and a long-term growth plan.

“One of the many benefits we have been able to introduce because of this partnership is the new Earnings Assurance Program, similar to what they already have on the PGA Tour.

“I have always believed that it is an incredible accomplishment for any professional golfer to simply gain their playing rights on the DP World Tour and this new initiative recognize and rewards that achievement.

“Although we will never lose the magic of the meritocracy and purity of a performance-based structure, this now offers certainty of income to those players who have made it to the pinnacle of the professional game in Europe,” he said.

The announcement comes following the PGA European Tour’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.