McIlroy, Homa, & Scheffler Comment on 2024 PGA Tour Changes From Arnold Palmer Invitational

ORLANDO, FL – After news broke earlier Wednesday that the PGA Tour approved big changes to its designated events in 2024, top golfers playing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week gave their take on it.

Defending FedEx Cup Champion Rory McIlroy said after his pro-am round at Bay Hill:

“It’s trying to get the top guys versus the hot guys, right? I think that creates a really compelling product. But a way that you don’t have to wait an entire year for your good play to then get the opportunity. That opportunity presents itself straight away.”

There are currently 17 designated events on the PGA Tour. Golfweek reported there will be no changes to the format of the four majors, The Players Championship, or the three FedEx Cup playoff events.

For other tournaments, such as the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational, they will have a limited field of 70 to 78 and no cut.

One step closer to a closed shop? 2024 elevated events will have 70-78, no cut; field comprised of top 50 from previous year’s BMW, top 10 from that year’s FedEx Cup not already in, and 5 who played well in the new PGA Tour minor leagues. (Plus Tiger whenever he wants). Thoughts? https://t.co/zmvTSQqF5Y

— Robert Lusetich (@RobertLusetich) March 1, 2023

The fields for those events will reportedly consist of the top 50 in FedEx points from 2023 (the field for this year’s BMW Championship, essentially), the top 10 players not otherwise eligible on the current FedEx Cup points race, and five places where golfers can earn a spot thanks to their performance in non-designated events. There will still be sponsor exemptions (so Tiger Woods can play any event he wishes) along with spots for golfers who weren’t in the top 50 the previous year but won an event.

McIlroy went on to say:

“You play well for two or three weeks, you’re in a designated event; you know then if you keep playing well, you stay in them. So, for example, someone like a Chris Kirk last week that wins Honda, he’s set. Winning is really important on this tour and good play and rewarding that.”

The field in last week’s Honda Classic is what the PGA Tour is trying to avoid. Sandwiched between four designated events, the highest-ranked player at PGA National was ranked No. 18. This week in Orlando, all of the top 20 eligible to participate are here.

In 2024, the south Florida tournament will be looking for a new title sponsor after a 42-year run by Honda.

Max Homa said:

“If we make these fields very large in these designated events, it will ruin non-designated events that are staples on the PGA Tour. The purses in those events aren’t going down, and it will keep the sponsors and fans happy.”

The Golfweek article went on to say that the PGA Tour ran simulations of this proposal and found there will be a turnover rate of around 40% in the top 50 from year to year. That was an important part of the plan in order to give golfers on the outside looking in a path to get in based on performance and not past standing.

Defending API champ Scottie Scheffler said:

“Getting into that top 50 will be huge for guys. I think it’s a better model overall for the tour for having a set of events that are aspirational that you can earn your way into. It’s more of a reward for the guys playing the best on the tour.”

The players reportedly received the 2024 schedule on Wednesday prior to it being released publicly.

Cover Image Via SkySports