After Xander Schauffele’s compelling Open Championship win at Royal Troon, the PGA Tour has been urged to make an exciting schedule change by Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner.
The final major of the year produced a brutal test of links golf throughout, with several high-profile names failing to make the weekend.
Schauffele’s second major of 2024 capped a brilliant return for the American contingent. It’s the first time since 1982 that US golfers have won all four major championships.
PGA Tour urged to make change to include more links golf in 2025
- READ MORE: Who is Daniel Brown? The Open Championship debutant who was firmly in contention at Royal Troon
Despite several players finding conditions extremely challenging, Nick Faldo claimed Royal Troon did a brilliant job with the course set-up.
Golf Channel’s Lavner shares this sentiment, believing links golf provides a different test than traditional US venues.
“To me, it is a great test of golf over the entire 18 holes. You have the shortest hole on the Open rota and the longest hole. I think it tested everyone,” Lavner told the Golf Channel Podcast.
“You had to put the ball on the fairway because there was ample trouble with all those penal pop bunkers. I thought iron play, as evidenced by Xander Schauffele’s 65 in the final round, and the greens, although they don’t have as many features as a traditional course, you would see on the PGA Tour, certainly at Pinehurst, there are still some dramatic movements you could have.”
Lavner went on to suggest the PGA Tour can become “monotonous” at times due to the same bomb and gauge courses emerging week on week.
He added: “I think the PGA Tour can become so monotonous because it’s essentially just a bomb and gauge game. It’s a birdie fest week in and week out, and whoever gets hot with the putter, coupled with length and precision, wins. This one is all about shot-making and patience; I’d love to see that tested more throughout the year.”
The Golf Channel pundit also claimed that the PGA Tour should change its schedule moving forward.
“To me the best answer is to have a US Open and then essentially have a month of a month and a half of links golf,” he added. “Where you have these national opens, the Irish Open, the Scottish Open, maybe have the Spanish and French Open. Get more links golf in the PGA Tour schedule and I think you would have a more compelling project and a more diverse set of winners.”
Links golf provides a completely unique test unlike any other
At times, there’s an argument to suggest links golf is an entirely different sport compared to what’s witnessed regularly on the PGA Tour.
As Lavner mentions, shot shaping and patience are required, which is why different winners emerge regularly in links conditions.
It’s a shame the world’s best players only compete in links golf on British shores twice a year at an absolute push.
The PGA Tour is surely about testing all aspects of the game—and right now, there’s a clear advantage for those who relish the typical American-style courses.
Hopefully, moving forward, Lavner’s suggestion will be heard by those making the important decisions at the top of the game.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
