Could the BEST PGA Tour players give up PIP money to avoid Elevated Events?

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was asked an intriguing question that considered the genuine commitment of the 'top 20' players to the PGA Tour's new-look schedule in 2023.

On Wednesday at the CJ Cup, Scheffler was asked if some players could be tempted to give up their financial bonus from Player Impact Program to avoid playing in an Elevated Event, granting themselves a week off.

The Masters champion didn't rule out that an extra-special commitment off the course would take priority over a Tour commitment, but maintained his desire to support the schedule set out by commissioner Jay Monahan in August.

The 26-year-old told the press he would play at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the Charles Schwab Challenge as they are close to home, but these commitments could see Scheffler play seven tournaments in eight weeks.

The Wells Fargo Championship, a new Elevated Event, comes before the AT&T Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship, the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Memorial, the US Open and the Travelers Championship all follow in the space of six weeks.

"It's a tough discussion because like what's the monetary value of the other thing that you want to do that week," Scheffler pondered.

"So if it was like, let's say, my sister was getting married or I'm having a baby, like whatever monetary value I'm giving up to watch that happen, that's what I'm going to do, it doesn't matter the money amount.

"So I think that's going to be a tough balance for guys whether it's a vacation or just time off or whatever it is.

"That will be a little bit of a tough decision, but I'm sure guys will be willing to give that up. I mean, it's like what's it worth to you to kind of be able to live your life the way you want to live it?

When Monahan announced the drastic changes to the Tour, excitement surrounded the guarantee of the top 20 players from the current season's Player Impact Program playing in 20 events. This is why the PIP is relevant to the new schedule and why players could consider giving up their bonuses.

This includes the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the four majors, The Players Championship, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and the WGC Match Play as well as three events of their choosing.

Moreover, the Wells Fargo Championship, the WM Phoenix Open, the RBC Heritage and the Travelers Championship have also been elevated which completes the 20 events with world-class fields. These changes were made to combat the rise of the LIV Golf Tour.

As well as Scheffler contemplating how he is to navigate what could be a busy year, concessions could be made for the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy who need to fulfil obligations on the DP World Tour to be eligible for the Ryder Cup.

Both are teeing it up this week, as are Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland. Rahm addressed this issue earlier in the week.

"A lot of it is going to have to be a combination of discussions with the European Tour for people like Rory and I where we have those 20 events to play for the PGA Tour and then you need to add three or four more for the European Tour, right, plus the events you want to play," Rahm said.

"You don't want that number to get too high and for us to play more golf than we want to play before the Ryder Cup or after the Ryder Cup."