With the PGA Tour taking a week off, much of the attention of the golfing world has been on the proposals the tour are considering ahead of the 2026 season which look to address issues such as field sizes and slow play.
Of course, anytime the PGA Tour looks to make a change, there are likely to be some players who welcome the moves and others who feel that mistakes are set to be made. It would be extremely unfair to judge those lower down the pecking order who are against some of the proposals under consideration.
The top 100 players are in line to keep their cards on the PGA Tour, rather than the top 125. Meanwhile, the number of Korn Ferry Tour players set to be promoted will go from 30 to 20. On the surface, it would appear to be a move which would push the PGA Tour towards being a closed shop.
However, there are potentially some moves which will benefit those who are not the superstars of the tour – particularly those who do not automatically qualify for the signature events.
PGA Tour proposal deemed ‘very important’
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner suggested that the PGA Tour could be about to take a positive step to creating a more manageable pathway for players to get into the signature events.
“There is going to be a small reduction in FedEx Cup points in that middle range of signature events. They are reducing the number of FedEx Cup points for finishes that are worse than sixth. To me that’s very important because there are only two players this season on the PGA Tour who cracked the top 50 in FedEx Cup points without playing a signature event, that was Max Greyserman and Aaron Rai,” he said.
“This was one of the main perception issues when they unveiled this series, that this would be a closed shop and these players who get into the signature events are going to be insulated from poor play.
“Where you can finish in the middle of the field in a signature event but earn more points than you can for an eighth placed finish in a full field event. I think this is going to be a good move for the PGA Tour and make it more equitable in the middle, where you are not necessarily rewarding players for average performance in elevated events.”
A pathway for players lower down the standings is imperative
It is imperative, if the PGA Tour are going to reduce field sizes, that they create opportunities for players further down the rankings. Those who are starting from the bottom need to have the chances to change their lives by competing in the biggest events.
Of course, some players will have to take a significant step backwards in the short-term. There may even be some big names who end up on the Korn Ferry Tour – but they will know that there is at least the pathway back to the top.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
