DP World Tour golfer Richard Mansell has hit out at Wyndham Clark after the 2023 US Open champion suggested that he would like to see a PGA Tour where fewer players keep their cards.
Of course, there are huge question marks over what the future of the sport looks like. The emergence of LIV Golf appears to have put the cat amongst the pigeons. And the only thing you can say with any certainty is that the status quo is no more.
Whatever you think of LIV, you cannot deny that their product is starting to influence other tours, including the PGA Tour.
Richard Mansell hits out at Wyndham Clark
And it seems that the idea of smaller fields appeals to some of the world’s best players. Wyndham Clark was asked over the weekend what he thought of Rory McIlroy backing the idea of introducing a tour of 100 players, with the worst-performing being relegated.
Clark himself suggested that he would welcome a system which includes relegation. And that prompted a strong reaction from Richard Mansell.
Writing on X, Mansell pointed out how easy it is for players such as Clark and McIlroy to back such a system after they have already reached the top…
The future of the PGA Tour cannot be decided only by the top players
It is so hard to know what the future of the PGA Tour looks like. Right now, it does appear that many are more concerned about the immediate threat of LIV rather than what will make a difference in the long-term.
Ultimately, LIV have shaken up the sport in the last couple of years. But they also need to prove that they can keep fans interested as the novelty starts to wear off. They will not be able to sign headline names such as Jon Rahm and Anthony Kim every week. And they do have a lot of older players on their tour.
The PGA Tour has that pathway for younger players coming through. And you have to say that it already appears to be ruthless enough with Q School.
It would be a shame if the guys at the very top had the only say on what the future of the PGA Tour looks like.
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