The PGA Tour is considering changes ahead of the 2026 season, which could significantly impact lesser-known players.
The emergence of LIV Golf three years ago has changed the golfing landscape, and the Tour authorities have been forced to act in order to prevent its best players from accepting lucrative breakaway league contracts.
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are reportedly close to a £1bn deal, which would end the current divide and effectively merge the two tours. It remains to be seen whether the reports have any substance.
As a result, the PGA Tour appears to be covering its back, and proposed changes, including reducing field sizes and the number of cards awarded, have emerged. Padraig Harrington has slammed the proposals, and Lucas Glover, who won the 2009 US Open, is far from impressed.
Lucas Glover slams PGA Tour proposals
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Speaking ahead of this week’s WWT Championship in Mexico, Glover expressed his feelings about the changes to the Golf Channel.
“I thought it was asinine, like most of our recent changes,” Glover explained. “Limiting players doesn’t help competition. We are the only sport which has decreased the number of teams or players. Every other sport has expanded its playoffs or its fields, and we are doing the opposite.
“I think it’s asinine. The Tour’s job description is to do what is right for the membership, not a few members.”
The American added: “Our product is suffering because we have a stale product, not because there is not a lot of competition. It’s the deepest this Tour has ever been. Now, we are going to limit that and make it harder to get out here for future stars. I think that’s short-sighted.”
PGA Tour proposals explained amid player backlash
The most significant proposal involves creating a maximum field size of 144 players, down from 156 in an open tournament. Furthermore, fields can be reduced again to 132 or 120 to aliviate any day light issues.
Notable tournaments which will be impacted include The Players Championship, which could be reduced to 120, The Scottish Open and Farmers Insurance Open. The proposal is being driven by the PAC, whom have highlighted that nearly a third of events were suspended due to darkness at some point.
Interestingly, no plans have been drawn up to increase the speed of play, instead proposals have been made to allow players more time over their shots.
Another significant change centres around the number of cards handed out. The PAC is calling for 100 cards, down from 125. The Korn Ferry Tour would also see a reduction of 10 cards, from 30 to 20. Q-School graduates would also be capped.
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