PGA Tour players ‘hold talks’ on rule changes that will leave Rory McIlroy very unpopular
The PGA Tour has gone through a whole host of changes in recent years, and members have been given a chance to vote on another following a Player Advisory Council meeting
Members of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council (PAC) met ahead of this week’s to discuss potential changes to eligibility and field sizes of events on the American-based circuit.
Eligibility status on the has become a hot talking point over the past year. The circuit has taken strides to see its best players competing alongside each other more frequently this campaign following the roll out of the ‘Signature Event’ programme in 2024.
This saw a number of the PGA Tour’s most recognised events handed elevated status, with a £15.2 million ($20m) prize pot on offer at each, with just 70 players competing for the eye-watering sum – often without a cut.
At regular Tour events, fields currently sit between 144 and 156 players, but concerns over playing times due to the large entry lists have been shared. So much so that, according to some of the Tour’s leading playing figures a part of the PAC met at Castle Pines to discuss a potential vote on making changes.
While members have expressed a desire to reduce field size due to events often running out of daylight ahead of the 36-hole cut, players at the other end of the spectrum appear to be concerned about having their playing rights limited. “We want every single player who earns a full Tour card to have a fair opportunity to compete on the PGA Tour,” an unnamed player claimed.
As things stand, performance in the FedEx Cup standings are imperative in securing playing rights for the following season. This campaign, any player inside the top-50 following the end of the regular season earns full exemption into all mega-money Signature Events for 2025.
Further down the list, Tour players who end the year inside the top-125 in the FedEx Cup list maintain a full Tour card. Per the report, another unnamed player claimed any changes need to be implemented sooner rather than later, commenting: “You have to get it done for 2026 – 2025 is baked in – but it has to be set in motion so guys know what they are playing for (next season).”
One man who has been in favour for reduced field sizes and less Tour cards is Running the risk of upsetting some of his fellow players further down the PGA Tour food chain, he said in March: “No, I mean, I’m all for making it more cutthroat, more competitive. Probably won’t be very popular for saying this but I’m all for less players and less Tour cards, and the best of the best.’’
Addressing the discussion surrounding the cut lines at the Tour’s Signature Events, he went on: “When all these signature events were thought of, we were thinking no cut, but if it’s important enough, or if it’s that important to Tiger and Jack and if Arnold were alive, if it was important enough for him, then it’s their tournament, at the end of the day, and they can do whatever they want.”