The World Long Drive will return in 2023, and it will be stronger and more powerful than ever before.
GF Sports & Entertainment acquired the World Long Drive IP. The sport will return to television on the Golf Channel, with more excitement and bigger purses.
The sport of long driving has had a slow start in recent years. The event was not televised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf Channel canceled the World Long Drive season. The players took up the role of host at One Stop Power Shop, North Carolina. This event blossomed into Professional Long Drivers Association.
Despite the challenges of COVID travel and advertising money within the pandemic budgets of the PLDA, the PLDA still had the goal to keep the sport alive. Since the last televised event in 2019, there have been many new faces in the sport. They feel it’s important that they present the athletes in the best light possible and get fans involved with the growing sport.
The 2023 WLD season will include 12 events in the US and over 30 internationally. The cash prizes for the 2023 WLD season will be more than $1.1million. Competitors can qualify for the World Long Drive Championship at eight North American qualifying events. This equates to 128 qualifying spots.
Bryson DeChambeau, a professional golfer who finished second in the 2022 PLDA Championship, said that “World Long Drive” is an exciting, challenging, and fun experience. “I started long drive to improve my swing speed. Then I became addicted to hitting it further and further. I look forward to competing in Atlanta and on a national stage next year.
Volvik World Long Drive Championship (Photo: Cy Cyr/Golf Channel).
All amateur level competitors around the globe will be able to qualify at different levels to reach the grand stage. This will increase the sport’s inclusivity by allowing competitors from 18 countries to compete in an established league.
“To say that I’m thrilled for World Long Drive being returned to television is an understatement,” stated Kyle Berkshire, 2019 World Long Drive Champion. “The sport and its competitors deserve to be featured on this platform. I’m excited for us all to deliver many memorable moments to the viewers over years.”
