PGA Tour Debate That Split Jordan Spieth & Phil Mickelson Reignited Once Again
Does the PGA Tour need to improve its FedExCup Playoffs? Maybe not, but for some, the season needs a better conclusion. So, what could be the end-of-the-season event if not the $100 million TOUR Championship? Per Kyle Porter, former CBS writer and now the Normal Sports author, The Open Championship could become the final event before the season ends.
But that is run by the R&A and doesn’t follow the PGA Tour’s schedule. Then, what else the PGA Tour could do to improve? Porter at the Smylie Kaufman Show revealed one way that the PGA Tour could elevate the season’s conclusion. And the key was the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Porter expressed that the best property or the event the PGA Tour has was the PLAYERS. After all, it is regarded as the fifth major of the year.
He further added, “The PLAYERS Championship is extraordinary, it’s amazing. I think it’s like in terms of my interest and intrigue, it’s right up there with a major. You can call it whatever you want, but I’m locked in like I am during US Open week.” Thus, Porter argued that the PLAYERS Championship could be moved from March to somewhere in August. However, Kaufman pointed out jokingly that it would be way hotter to play golf. But Porter didn’t budge. Even though he agreed, but said, “When you have something that is that good if you’re any business, the best thing is to double down on it.”
Porter thought that the PGA Tour changing the season finale may hype the Tour’s conclusion, and intrigue more people. However, the last time the PLAYERS Championship moved from May to March, there were two groups, one for it, and another against it. For example, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson. Spieth wanted the May schedule because of the Bermuda grass and how the event played firm.
But Lefty preferred the March schedule as he claimed that the course wasn’t designed to be played firm. Regardless, the change of FedExCup playoffs was only a suggestion, and the PGA Tour is looking for other changes in the FedExCup than changing its playoffs.
The PGA Tour sent a memo to the Player Advisory Council but it also sent showed throughout the golf because of it. No changes will be occurring in the 2025 season but the season after it, the PGA Tour may have some significant differences. The voting for the same will be on November 18th so the decision could be in favor or against the new memo.
You are wondering what are the new clauses. Well, the first is that the PGA Tour will give only the top 100 on the FedExCup standings their Tour cards instead of the usual 125. The field of events will be reduced from 156 to 144 or even 120 or 132 depending on circumstances such as daylight. The PGA Tour would offer fewer cards to the Korn Ferry Tour graduated instead of 30 only 20 would be Tour bound. The FedExCup points for a second position for majors and the PLAYERS might get increased while 11 and after might be decreased.
Other than this, the Monday qualifiers will be entirely removed from the schedule of any event. These are the significant changes which would definitely affect the Tour’s future. And if they are making so many changes, improving the playoffs wouldn’t be different either. Who knows, they may take in Kyle Porter’s suggestions and include them in the memo too.
