Rich Beem implores the PGA Tour to make ‘massive’ change as he makes admission that was ‘hard’ for him to say

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The PGA Tour is seemingly preparing to continue on its own path heading into 2026, with proposals recently pushed through which are set to lead to a number of significant changes.

Of course, the PGA Tour‘s main focus for more than 18 months has concerned reaching an agreement with the PIF which sees the game come back together. But there is still a huge question mark hanging over when exactly a deal will come.

Thus, the tour is making plans for 2026 and beyond. But it is fair to say that the decision taken has not gone down well with everyone.

Just 100 players will automatically keep their PGA Tour cards each year from 2026. Meanwhile, 20 players will be promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour rather than 30. Many of the tournaments are also going to see their field sizes reduce.

Rich Beem reacts to the changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2026

There is a danger that the PGA Tour becomes more of a closed shop which mostly benefits those already at the top.

Speaking on Fairways of Life with Matt Adams, Rich Beem noted that he is actually in favour of the decisions, but insisted that it is imperative that the PGA Tour looks out for those lower down the food chain.

“It’s hard for me to say this, but I like the direction that it’s going with the PGA Tour. I think we could have a reduction in field and not have a massive impact – this is really important – as long as all of the money doesn’t stay with the PGA Tour. They’ve got to start putting more money into the Korn Ferry Tour, we’ve got a relationship with the DP World Tour, we’ve got to put money into that. The money has to trickle down someway,” he said.

“We can’t keep all of it on the PGA Tour. That would a massive opportunity for us to do the right thing and grow the game. You have more players playing for the same amount of money they’re playing for right now, that’s when it gets a little bit greedy, a little bit ugly. The money in the game is fine. I’m totally fine with these guys. 

“We’ve got to spread more of the wealth around. There’s too many guys out there that are young, some of them take a little longer to bloom. But to go out there and spend the amount of money they are and still the purse sizes are the same as they used to be on the Korn Ferry Tour for what, 20-odd something years, that’s got to change. That’s got to change massively.”

PGA Tour changes have received plenty of criticism

It is not difficult to find figures who largely disagree with Beem’s view. Brandel Chamblee said that it was a sad day when the proposals were voted through. Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington suggested that the proposals sounded terrible.

But, as Beem notes, there are some crucial factors which will determine how the changes are viewed in time.

If the Korn Ferry Tour offers lucrative opportunities and boasts a few household names, then it would vindicate the decision to make the controversial changes.

But perhaps it is fair to suggest that some are not entirely convinced that those at the top of the PGA Tour will have those on the Korn Ferry Tour in mind in the years to come.