The PGA Tour is always going to have problems to battle and now Brandel Chamblee has predicted they might end up performing a remarkable U-turn in the coming years.
The TOUR has a number of issues to battle every year. Right now, there are problems with LIV Golf and who gets invited to certain events, while issues with slow play and the introduction of range-finders remain.
However, another issue the TOUR might now have is when it comes to its signature events.
Big events like The Arnold Palmer, The Truist Championship and The Players are all big-money events for players. However, they’re also becoming a bit of a closed shop, with no cuts and invites only.
Indeed, after losing out to Scottie Scheffler at the Byron Nelson last weekend, Erik van Rooyen went off on the current situation with those signature events.
And now, golf analyst Brandel Chamblee has backed Van Rooyen and in doing so, predicted a change will come.
Brandel Chamblee predicts major PGA Tour change after recent complaints
With the PGA Tour obviously trying to strike a fine balance between things and top players like Rory McIlroy believing smaller fields is better, there is a big discussion point here.
However, according to Brandel Chamblee, the current situation is something the TOUR will look back on and regret.
“The difference between the best PGA Tour player and the worst PGA Tour player was less than 7.5%. There is such a fine line between the players. They are so evenly packed. There is so much parity in professional golf, to reduce the playing field. First is bad for spectators, in my view. And it’s bad for producing players. You need a consistent pipeline to produce the best players and to give the best opportunity of having stars and stories,” Chamblee said on his latest podcast episode.
“When you get to these elevated events, there is a boutique feel to it. It feels like you are at a very private, sleepy country club where there is 10 players playing the whole day. You go on to the range at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and there are four or five players out there.
“If you are a spectator you want to feel this frenetic energy. You want to feel like you are at an event that is thrilling and big and full of energy. But it has this sleepy feel to it. I don’t think it’s the best experience as a spectator on site, these elevated events and many, many people I speak to agree with that sentiment.”
Continuing his discussion on the subject, Chamblee then mentioned Van Rooyen’s comments and admitted he agrees with him.
“There is a sense there is a bit of a closed shop and I certainly applaud Erik van Rooyen’s opinion and stance on that,” Chamblee added.
“He is not alone. I think as they go on the PGA Tour are evolving, they are not against making changes. I think eventually we will see that they do the opposite of what they are doing. Increase the size of the field and have a cut. I think a cut is important. It’s a very dramatic feel but if we are going to make the argument that golf is completely merit based showing up with no cut is inconsistent with that philosophy which has underpinned and been the foundation of the PGA Tour.”
The PGA Tour needs to be careful with big decisions
There is no doubt the PGA Tour is benefiting right now from the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and other big names playing well.
Viewership is up on the last few events and there’s a feeling of excitement going into the next major and big events that we could see some big stories develop.
However, the TOUR also has to be so careful they don’t ruin any goodwill by shutting out players and effectively making it impossible for them to earn a living.
All that will do is push certain players towards the LIV Golf side of things and continue that argument.
Right now, this idea of a ‘closed shop’ doesn’t seem to sit right with a few
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