PGA TOUR is Making Major Changes to Playing Fields

The PGA TOUR Player Advisory Council is making big changes to the field of play in the coming years, and although the revisions are not finalized, they seem to be moving in that direction.

Field sizes, exemption statuses, and the number of PGA TOUR cards that can be earned through the various feeder tours are all in the scope of change. Additionally, there could be changes to the FedEx Cup points for Majors, the Players Championship, and the PGA TOUR’s Signature Events are all set to be impacted as well.

The changes, first reported by ESPN, are not set to be approved until 2026 and are still subjected to approval, which will take place at the next PGA TOUR Policy Board Meeting on November 18.

The proposed changes state:

“The PGA Tour would adjust the maximum number of players in a starting field of an open one-course, full-field tournament from 156 to 144, with a further reduction from 132 to 120 as required by circumstances such as darkness.”

The reasoning is explained in the executive summary:

“Field sizes that are too large make it difficult to finish the competition on schedule each day and cause delays in the overall pace of play, increasing the average round times on tour.”

Additionally, the Players Advisory Council said it would like to limit the fields of Signature Events, while other tournaments that are played on different courses every year, would stay at 156 players. It would also limit the number of tour cards given:

• The PAC proposed reducing the number of players who would maintain their PGA Tour card and full status from the top 125 finishers in FedEx Cup points to the top 100, while adding a new conditional category for those players who finish anywhere from 101 to 125.
• The Korn Ferry Tour, which typically awards 30 PGA Tour cards per season, would now award only 20 cards under the proposed changes. The DP World Tour would continue to award 10 PGA Tour cards, and Q-school cards would be capped at five.

The TOUR does not want to change too many things because they believe it could be “disruptive and increase fan confusion.”

🚨🚨🚨 BREAKING.

In an email just sent to players confirms the changes from my article a few weeks ago. Although not voted on yet it seems like a foregone conclusion

And they are proposing getting rid of Mondays for a good amount of events. Including the WM. This is so sad pic.twitter.com/IlyrjCmZRC

— No More Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) October 29, 2024

The changes could also impact Monday qualifiers. ESPN writes:

“In exploring ways to ‘minimize the impact of field size changes on the current membership,’ the PAC also proposed a plan that would reduce or eliminate open qualifying (or Monday qualifying) positions for events with a field size smaller than 144 players. This would not apply to the FedEx Cup Fall events.

According to the executive summary, a review of open qualifying metrics revealed that 65% to 75% of players who make the field via a Monday qualifier do not make the cut. The tour said it plans to work with the PGA of America — whose sections run the local Monday qualifiers — should the proposed changes be approved.”

The changes were suggested after Rory McIlroy said earlier this year that the TOUR would likely benefit from smaller fields.

Cover Image via Golf Magazine