Aon, PGA TOUR evolve partnership to increase use of real-time analytics, highlight drama ahead of Signature Event starts

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR announced Thursday that its partnership with Aon will integrate the use of real-time analytics and capitalize on changes to the TOUR’s reimagined 2024 schedule to create more drama and insights for fans.

First, Aon will headline the Aon Next 10 and the Aon Swing 5, which recognize better decision-making and the elite performance required to earn access into in-season Signature Events.

Second, key elements of the award-winning Aon Risk Reward Challenge program will evolve to “Better Decision Breakdown” segments that use emerging technology to provide real-time analysis of player decisions.

About Aon Next 10, Aon Swing 5

At the beginning of the season, the first 50 spots in each Signature Event field are set based on prior year FedExCup standings. To help complete the Signature Event fields, there are two new programs that will give players the opportunity to compete head-to-head against the PGA TOUR’s best:

• Aon Next 10: The top 10 players, not already exempt, from the FedExCup standings.
• Aon Swing 5: Top five FedExCup points earners, not already exempt, from the swings of Full-Field Events leading up to each Signature Event.

“We view the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 as an opportunity to further innovate around our reimagined schedule,” said PGA TOUR Chief Competitions Officer Tyler Dennis. “Further defining these paths has provided the best players in the world more opportunities to go head-to-head, engaging fans in new ways and creating additional consequence in our Full-Field Events.”

Broadcast integrations highlighting these paths will provide fans with a real-time understanding of what is at stake at each Full-Field Event as players compete for spots in Signature Events.

“Aon is committed to continuous innovation on behalf of clients and partners, and that mindset extends to our sports marketing strategy,” said Andy Weitz, chief marketing officer at Aon. “These new programs are designed to further enhance the fan experience by offering insights into how players make real-time decisions on the course and how those better decisions translate into opportunities to compete at the highest level on the PGA TOUR.”

Better Decision Breakdown

“Better Decision Breakdown” segments will provide fans with a window into how the best players in the world make better decisions when it matters most. Leveraging new technology, production teams will be able to deliver real-time insights including Strokes Gained analysis, model-based shot dispersion, accuracy depictions, expected outcomes and more.

“We could not be more excited to have Aon woven into our reimagined schedule, which creates consistent excitement for our fans,” said PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Brian Oliver. “Aon’s innovative approach to partnership will bring new real-time insights into each broadcast and create more engagement opportunities for fans as they track the performance of their favorite players.”

The enhancements are part of the next evolution of Aon’s partnership with the PGA TOUR, which began in 2019 with the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, a season-long competition across the PGA TOUR and LPGA that highlights golf’s best strategic decision-makers. The Aon Risk Reward Challenge will continue on the LPGA Tour, where winners will receive the Aon Trophy and the $1 million prize.

Weitz added: “We’re grateful to our partners at the TOUR, CBS and NBC, as well as global partners like Sky Sports that leverage the international broadcast feed, for their leadership in exploring new ways that we can bring more real-time analytics and compelling storytelling to the live broadcast.”

Program details

The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 will provide access to the following Signature Events.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Jan. 29-Feb. 4)

• Aon Next 10 – See the 2022-23 FedExCup Fall standings
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open

The Genesis Invitational (Feb. 12-18)

• Aon Next 10 – from the 2022-23 FedExCup Fall standings
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 4-10)

• Aon Next 10 – from the current FedExCup standings through The Classic in The Palm Beaches
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Mexico Open at Vidanta and The Classic in The Palm Beaches

RBC Heritage (April 15-21)

• Aon Next 10 – from the current FedExCup standings through the Masters Tournament
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Puerto Rico Open, Valspar Championship, Texas Children’s Houston Open and Valero Texas Open

Wells Fargo Championship (May 6-12)

• Aon Next 10 – from the current FedExCup standings through THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Corales Puntacana Championship, Zurich Classic of New Orleans and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 3-9)

• Aon Next 10 – from the current FedExCup standings through RBC Canadian Open
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Myrtle Beach Classic, Charles Schwab Challenge and RBC Canadian Open

Travelers Championship (June 17-23)

• Aon Next 10 – from the current FedExCup standings through U.S. Open
• Aon Swing 5 – top FedExCup points earners from Myrtle Beach Classic, Charles Schwab Challenge and RBC Canadian Open

As previously announced, additional spots in Signature Events are available to current-year tournament winners of full FedExCup Point events and PGA TOUR members in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking, not otherwise exempt through the above categories, as well as four sponsor exemptions reserved for PGA TOUR members.