Lucas Glover says he ‘disagrees’ with Rory McIlroy and doesn’t understand his recent comments about the PGA Tour

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It seems fair to say that not everyone on the PGA Tour seems to be on the same page when it comes to figuring out how it can move forward in the years to come.

Already this year, the likes of Justin Thomas and Charley Hoffman have sent letters to PGA Tour members, with Thomas encouraging players to be more accommodating with the media, while Hoffman spoke about a range of issues.

Slow play has been a real problem this season. The American Express attracted real criticism from the fans after the final round took the best part of six hours. And the tour has not been helped by the shot clock arguably being the biggest success story to come from TGL.

Rory McIlroy claimed smaller field sizes would help address slow play – though he admitted that it would be an unpopular opinion. Of course, 2026 will see smaller fields at most events and only 100 players automatically keep their cards.

Lucas Glover disagrees with Rory McIlroy’s idea for addressing slow play on the PGA Tour

So McIlroy will not be surprised that his comments have not gone down well with Lucas Glover. Speaking on 5 Clubs, the 2009 US Open champion was asked about the Northern Irishman’s claim, and he hit out at the idea that the PGA Tour are making the right call reducing numbers next year.

“I don’t see how you can have more competition with less people. I’ve said this over and over. Every other sport has expanded, their playoffs have expanded, their seasons, and that’s more competition. On the PGA Tour, in the world ranking, from 50 to 750, there’s not that much difference. The players are so good and so deep across the world, especially on this tour, I don’t see how anybody could say having 25 less guys a week is going to breed more competition. That doesn’t add up to me,” he said.

“So I disagreed respectfully with Rory on that. I disagree respectfully with the tour on that. And I’m happy to continue to beat that drum for my fellow players that agree with me, because I just don’t get it. And to hide behind pace of play when we haven’t done the things that have needed to be done to try and speed up before we cut 25 cards, it doesn’t make sense to me. Rory has said he doesn’t want to play as much, he played a ton last year to support both tours, to get TGL off the ground, I know that man’s tired, and he can do whatever he wants, that’s his right.”

What others said about the changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2026

In fairness to the PGA Tour, it was highly unlikely that they were going to find a way forward which satisfied all of their members. And the proposals have been put together by a number of current players.

However, Glover is not alone in his frustration. Brandel Chamblee said it was a ‘sad’ day for golf when the proposals were approved. Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington labelled the changes ‘terrible’. And it is hard to argue with those who fear the tour becoming more of a closed shop.

McIlroy was not pushing for smaller field sizes; simply noting that that is one approach which could be taken to help address slow play. But McIlroy is not someone who will have to worry about ever keeping his card.

The PGA Tour needs the players further down the FedEx Cup standings to have the opportunity to turn themselves into household names if the tour is going to thrive once again.

And clearly, Glover is concerned that that pathway is going to be needlessly closed off to so many.