PGA Tour Aims To Reduce Fields & Eliminate Cuts In New Elevated Events

The PGA Tour reportedly is planning to reduce field sizes to between 70 and 78 players while also eliminating the 36-hole cut in some elevated events in 2024, sources told GolfWeek.

The changes are a radical new approach to not only keep top players from jumping ship to LIV Golf but also to make tournaments more exciting for spectators and more rewarding for players.

PGA Tour approves radical schedule changes, reducing fields in elevated events and ending cuts https://t.co/4Bi7WULrah via @golfweek

— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) March 1, 2023

According to the report, all elevated events, excluding Majors, the PLAYERS Championship, and FedEx Cup Playoff tournaments, will be subjected to the changes. The smaller fields and elimination of cutlines after two days of play are monumental changes and will incentivize players with larger purses and four days of play, which could increase ticket sales and overall viewership of the Tour’s elevated events.

Fields at the designated events will be comprised of the Top 50 players who qualify for the FedEx Cup Championship’s “semi-final” leg, the BMW Championship. Additionally, the Top 10 players not otherwise eligible on the FedEx Cup points race and five players who qualify through their performance in non-designated events will also be invited.

There will also be other criteria, like consideration of the Official World Golf Ranking, that will let players qualify, but the focus will be on the Top 30.

So next year we’ll have 10ish PGA Tour events with no cut and limited fields of mostly the same players. Definitely an easier product to sell to advertisers and sponsors. Guys can play their way in, sure.

But, it must be said, it does sound awfully similar to another golf tour. https://t.co/SEV0Wxv4dm

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 1, 2023

The process was decided upon through a series of data simulations run by Tour executives. Some of the details, including the smaller fields and no cuts, were adjustments proposed by members during the players-only meeting before the BMW Championship in Delaware last year.

Last year, in direct response to LIV Golf, the PGA Tour announced it would bring a strategy to the table that would guarantee the game’s top players would not only be present at events but would be paid significantly more than they were in the past.

Some good in here (players being able to play their way into elevated events through non-elevated events), but it’s mostly bad (small fields with no cuts).

Eliminating the Nick Taylors of the world from contending for elevated events is bad for context and removing the cut… https://t.co/BVZ3CXxu1c

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) March 1, 2023

While the increased purses and guaranteed attendance of the game’s top names have helped incentivize more viewership and spectators at the events, some see it as a “denial of playing opportunities” for up-and-coming names.

The report says one unnamed top player who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the new structure could allow for members to play their way into the elevated tournaments and “will not create a closed ecosystem” for the Tour’s biggest names.

The PGA Tour declined to respond or confirm the details of the plan, but a memo explaining the changes is expected to be shared with players later today.

Cover Image Via SkySports