The PGA Tour is planning large adjustments for the upcoming 2026 season. New CEO Brian Rolapp is working to maintain the match on prime as it’s competing with LIV Golf. Nevertheless, not everybody agrees with the brand new route.
One main change, slicing the variety of gamers with full tour standing and shrinking match fields has sparked a debate. Two gamers, former US Open champ Lucas Glover and star Rickie Fowler, have expressed their totally different opinions on the replace.
What is anticipated to vary within the 2026 PGA Tour?
Beginning in 2026, the PGA Tour will cut back the variety of gamers with full exempt standing from 125 to 100. This implies fewer golfers could have assured spots in tournaments.
Furthermore, common tournaments could have smaller fields, dropping from 156 to 144 gamers. The rationale for these adjustments is to hurry up the play. However, Rolapp can also be centered on talks for a doable merger with LIV Golf, which may reshape the game.
Lucas Glover opposes the up to date adjustments
Lucas Glover, who gained the 2009 US Open, isn’t comfortable concerning the adjustments. The 45-year-old thinks slicing area sizes is a mistake.
“I believe all people ought to have a voice, and I believe all people ought to be taken into consideration when choices are made, and limiting entry isn’t a method to develop the expertise coming into the PGA Tour for my part,” Glover stated.
He additionally argued that smaller fields don’t make the tour extra aggressive. “We’re the one sports activities organisation which can be saying that much less gamers means extra competitors,” he added. In keeping with Glover, these adjustments are “shortsighted.”
Rickie Fowler’s constructive take
Rickie Fowler, a well-liked PGA Tour star, has a special take. In keeping with him, the adjustments will make the tour stronger and extra elite.
“I believe going to 100 is the step in the precise route. All of us need PGA TOUR to be probably the most elite tour there’s out right here, one of the best product,” Fowler stated.
He believes fewer spots will push gamers to carry out higher. “You get a handful of begins and also you higher play good once you do.”
A divide in golf’s future
Glover and Fowler’s disagreement exhibits an even bigger debate in golf: ought to the PGA Tour be open to extra gamers or concentrate on being unique? As Rolapp leads the tour via these adjustments and LIV Golf talks, he’ll search to discover a steadiness. The 2026 season will present if these new guidelines make the PGA Tour stronger or go away some gamers behind.
