LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Jordan Spieth discloses conversations he’s had with PGA Tour players about the future of the Tour as LIV Golf merger talks continue

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Add as preferred source on Google

Jordan Spieth is the latest big-name PGA Tour player to be quizzed on the future of the product as Tour officials remain locked in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Jay Monahan and Adam Scott’s meeting with Donald Trump has provided renewed optimism that the professional game will soon be healed. Currently, LIV players are banned from competing in PGA Tour-sanctioned events.

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard even suggested LIV Golf stars could feature at The Players Championship, but such an eventuality feels far-fetched at the moment.

The looming possibility of LIV golfers returning is a concern for lesser-known PGA Tour players, many of whom play week in and week out to secure long-term financial stability.

Jordan Spieth says what PGA Tour players have told him about the future of the product

The Genesis Invitational 2025 - Round One
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Speaking ahead of the Cognizant Classic, Jordan Spieth revealed that several players have contacted him over the past year to discuss the future of the Tour.

“I would say over the last year and a half, I spent actually a lot of time, more than ever, listening to guys, reaching out to some, plenty of guys reaching out to me and hearing what they’re saying,” Spieth said.

“And then, yeah, I mean, what’s ended up really happening with the solution to when guys have — I don’t want to call it complaints, but when things come up like that, it gets directed to Tour management that go through either a statistic analysis on what they’re saying to give them more information, stuff like that, where it’s — if it’s the points difference and then saying, hey, we’re willing to adjust, we just want to see a season first, stuff like that, and that has been done. That was done for this season.”

Spieth added: “The idea is to try to get everything as fair as possible while creating the most opportunities for the top guys to be playing the best golf courses and the best tournaments as often as possible together, and having pathways to create stars coming up from Canada, Latin America, through the Korn Ferry, on to the PGA Tour, being able to have Ludvig come up and immediately make an impact into the most significant events.

“Those kind of pathways are what the Tour has always been about. So having a combination of the bunch, I think is what’s going into the future product model, and everyone ideally is being heard. Again, I’d like to emphasize again that I’m no longer involved and can’t speak for everyone in the past few months. But prior to that, I’d spent a lot of time talking with a lot of players and trying to direct them—not giving my opinion. I don’t have the answers—but trying to direct them to the people who have the answers.”

What changes have been made to the PGA Tour

For those players battling outside the FedEx Cup top 70 and looking to finish inside the 125 in the autumn, the prospect of LIV players returning is concerning, especially at a time when the PGA Tour has looked to streamline its product.

Adjustments to field sizes will take place in 2026, and the FedEx Cup points system has already been revamped. What’s more, those looking to earn PGA Tour cards now face a more demanding task.

Regular eventsCurrent field size2026 Field size
Sony Open in Hawaii144120
The American Express156156
Farmers Insurance Open156144
WM Phoenix Open132120
Mexico Open132120
Cognizant Classic144120
Puerto Rico Open132120
The Players Championship144120
Valspar Championship144132
Texas Children’s Houston Open144132
Valero Texas Open144132
Corales Puntacana Championship132120
Zurich Classic of New Orleans160144
The CJ Cup Byron Nelson156144
Myrtle Beach Classic132120
Charles Schwab Challenge132132
RBC Canadian Open156144
Rocket Mortgage Classic156144
John Deere Classic156144
Genesis Scottish Open156144
ISCO Championship156144
Barracuda Championship156144
3M Open156144
Wyndham Championship156144
Procore Championship144144
Sanderson Farms Championship132120
Black Desert Championship132120
Shriners Children’s Open132120
Zozo Championship7872
WWT Championship120120
Butterfield Bermuda Championship120120
RSM Classic156144
Credit Golf Channel

Korn Ferry Tour cards have been reduced from 30 to 20, and fewer Monday qualifiers will be eligible for 132-field events. Elsewhere, field sizes for open tournaments played on one course have been reduced, and the Players Championship will also move to a 120-field size.

Regarding FedEx Cup points, the player who finishes second at the Players Championship and the majors will receive more, while those outside the top 11 will receive fewer.