PGA Tour Player Advisory Council Working Toward Big Changes for 2026 Season

The 16-member PGA Tour Player Advisory Council (PAC) met on Tuesday to set the wheels in motion to reduce field sizes to as few as 100 in the not-too-distant future.

The members who are playing the BMW Championship at Castle Rock in Colorado met in-person, with those who didn’t qualify joining virtually. 

The main concern is that many events with 144- or 156-player fields don’t make a cut on Fridays due to the second round being suspended by darkness. In order to reduce fields, the PGA Tour would have to drop the number of exempt players for the first time since 1983.

from my understanding the suggestion came from the PAC and adopted by the Tour. If I was someone who finished 157-160 I would hate the rule and I totally understand that. But a full season to get into the top 156 is fair to me. https://t.co/POEwTFTIs4

— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) August 20, 2024

A player told Golfweek that good momentum was made to potentially finalize the plan in November, but it wouldn’t go into effect until 2026.

“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).”

Another PAC member said the goal would be to reduce exemptions to 120 in 2026 and continue to drop before possibly settling at 100. In order to get the full membership to sign off on the plan, there’s the potential of raising the number of golfers in each Signature Event above 70, but no agreement has been reached. 

The group meets next in Sea Island, Georgia, before the RSM Classic, which is the final points-paying PGA Tour event of the season.

Cover Image via PGA TOUR