The 'Road to the LPGA,' better known as the newly rebranded Epson Tour, gave its players a nice bump in pay on Tuesday. The tour, which opens its 21-tournament schedule March 4-6 with the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Fla., announced a total purse of $4.41 million or $210,000 per tournament. Both figures eclipse the previous all-time records for total prize money ($4 million) and average purse size ($194,000) set in 2019 and 2021, respectively. 

> Question of the Week: The yet-to-be-named Saudi-backed golf league is reportedly going to feature 54-hole, no-cut tournaments, along with a team element. Considering the PGA Tour schedule features 46 stroke-play events, should it consider changing or adding new formats?
Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@morningread.com. For your response to be published, you must include first and last name, along with city and state of residence. Read last week's responses.

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Announced: By Adidas, the signing of Aaron Wise to a multiyear endorsement agreement. Wise will wear Adidas headwear, apparel, footwear and accessories while on the course. In the 2021-22 PGA Tour season, Wise has already posted two top-10 and three top-25 finishes.

Announced: By the Epson Tour, a record total purse of $4.41 million for the 2022 season, which opens a 21-tournament schedule in March. Also, the largest purse in Tour history ($335,000) will be offered at the French Lick Resort Charity Championship contested on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort, which has hosted the Epson Tour since 2017.
 
Conducted: By The Arena Group, an up-listing of its shares to the N.Y. Stock Exchange, raising up to $34.5 million in the IPO. Through a 1-for-22 stock split, the owner of Sports Illustrated is qualified to list its shares on the NYSE. The stock will be traded under the symbol AREN. The First Call's sister publication, Morning Read, is the golf content provider for SI.com.

Honored: By the PGA Tour, D.J. Gregory with its PGA Tour Courage Award. Gregory was born with cerebral palsy and has walked over 14,000 miles and 42,000 holes at PGA Tour events since 2008 to raise more than $1 million to support his Walking For Kids Foundation. He becomes the first non-player to receive the award. Previous winners are Erik Compton (2013), Jarrod Lyle (2015), Gene Sauers (2017) and Morgan Hoffmann (2020). 

Named: By the PGA of America, David Cannon, of Sussex, England, as the second recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Photojournalism. Cannon and his work will be celebrated May 18 prior to the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. Cannon, 66, has worked for Getty Images since 1998, when the media company purchased Allsport, where he began working in 1983.

FEBRUARY
9-10: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, Calif. | Info
11-13: West Michigan Golf Show, Grand Rapids, Mich. | Info
18-20: Toledo Golf Show, Toledo, Ohio | Info
19-23: CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, San Diego, Calif. | Info
20-22: Carolinas PGA Super Show, Greensboro, N.C. | Info
25-27: Colorado Golf Expo, Denver, Colo. | Info
25-27: Chicago Golf Show, Rosemont, Ill. | Info

JULY
26-27: Multi-Course and Resort Operators Retreat, Charleston, S.C.

JANUARY 2023
24-27: PGA Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.

🚶‍♂️ 14,000 miles
⛳️ 42,000 holes
❤️ $1 million raised @WalkingForKids

DJ Gregory is the recipient of the PGA TOUR Courage Award. pic.twitter.com/clqPPur76E

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 8, 2022