PGA Tour 2026 changes spark heating debate among golfers; check details
One major change, cutting the number of players with full tour status and shrinking tournament fields has sparked a debate. Two players, former US Open champ Lucas Glover and star Rickie Fowler, have expressed their different opinions on the update.
Starting in 2026, the PGA Tour will reduce the number of players with full exempt status from 125 to 100. This means fewer golfers will have guaranteed spots in tournaments.
Moreover, regular tournaments will have smaller fields, dropping from 156 to 144 players. The reason for these changes is to speed up the play. On the other hand, Rolapp is also focused on talks for a possible merger with LIV Golf, which could reshape the sport.
Lucas Glover, who won the 2009 US Open, isn't happy about the changes. The 45-year-old thinks cutting field sizes is a mistake.
'I think everybody should have a voice, and I think everybody should be taken into account when decisions are made, and limiting access is not a way to grow the talent coming into the PGA Tour in my opinion,' Glover said.
He also argued that smaller fields don't make the tour more competitive. 'We are the only sports organisation that are saying that less players means more competition,' he added. According to Glover, these changes are 'shortsighted.'
Rickie Fowler, a popular PGA Tour star, has a different take. According to him, the changes will make the tour stronger and more elite.
'I think going to 100 is the step in the right direction. We all want PGA TOUR to be the most elite tour there is out here, the best product,' Fowler said.
He believes fewer spots will push players to perform better. 'You get a handful of starts and you better play good when you do.'
Glover and Fowler's disagreement shows a bigger debate in golf: should the PGA Tour be open to more players or focus on being exclusive? As Rolapp leads the tour through these changes and LIV Golf talks, he will seek to find a balance. The 2026 season will show if these new rules make the PGA Tour stronger or leave some players behind.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Swiatek rallies past McNally in Wimbledon Round 2
London, July 3 (UNI) Poland's Iga Swiatek dug deep to defeat American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 in a compelling second-round battle on Centre Court here today, extending her remarkable record at Grand Slam events. The No. 8 seed and five-time major champion rallied from a set down to secure the hard-fought win in 2 hours and 25 minutes. With the victory, Swiatek advanced to the third round at a Grand Slam for the 22nd consecutive time, joining the elite company of Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo as the only players this century to achieve the feat. Swiatek, who has never exited a Slam before the third round since the 2019 US Open, improved her record in Grand Slam second-round matches to 23 wins and just two losses. Despite her dominance at the majors, Wimbledon remains the only Slam where she is yet to go beyond the quarterfinals, having made her best run to that stage in 2023. Roday's encounter rekindled a rivalry dating back to the juniors, where Swiatek and McNally once teamed up to win the 2018 Junior French Open doubles title. McNally had also defeated Swiatek in the singles semifinals of that tournament. This match marked only their second meeting on the professional tour, with Swiatek once again prevailing — though not without a scare. McNally showcased grit and aggressive net play to take the first set, but Swiatek adjusted her rhythm and began to dominate the longer rallies, racing through the final two sets. In the third round, Swiatek will face another American, Danielle Collins. Although Swiatek holds a 7-2 head-to-head advantage over the former Top 10 player, Collins won their most recent meeting in Rome earlier this year and also famously beat Swiatek in the 2022 Australian Open semifinals. As Swiatek eyes a deeper run on the Wimbledon lawns, all eyes will be on whether the former World No. 1 can surpass her quarterfinal finish from last year and finally mount a serious title challenge on grass. UNI BDN SSP
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
PGA Tour's FedEx Cup bonus goes from a lump sum to one winner to 3 payoffs
The PGA Tour has done away with the staggered start for the FedEx Cup finale. In its place is a new pay structure with staggered bonuses to whoever is leading at three points in the final month of the season. The FedEx Cup champion will get $10 million, down from $25 million. However, if the No. 1 seed would still get $25 million if he stays at the top throughout the playoffs. The bonus pool remains at $100 million under the structure released Wednesday. But instead of the FedEx Cup champion receiving $25 million at the end of the Tour Championship, the No. 1 player will get $10 million after the regular season ends with the Wyndham Champion. Whoever leads the FedEx Cup after the BMW Championship gets $5 million. And the Tour Championship winner gets $10 million. This caps an overhaul to what the PGA Tour hopes can lead to a more compelling — and less confusing — end to the season. The staggered start — also known as starting strokes — gave the No. 1 seed a two-shot lead at the Tour Championship by putting him at 10-under par before the tournament event started. Now the top 30 who reach East Lake will start even, just like any tournament, and whoever wins the Tour Championship is the FedEx Cup champion. To account for the winner-take-all nature of the Tour Championship, the pay structure was altered to make sure season-long performances were still rewarded, and top players did not get penalized too much for having a bad week at East Lake. Scottie Scheffler was so dominant last year he led the FedEx Cup all through the playoffs, picking up the $25 million bonus as the champion. If the new payment structure had been in place in 2023, however, Jon Rahm would have received $10 million for leading the FedEx Cup going into the playoffs; Scheffler would have won $5 million for leading after the BMW Championship; and Viktor Hovland would have won $10 million for being the FedEx Cup champion. Rahm was the No. 1 seed starting the 2023 playoffs, tied for 18th in the Tour Championship and his postseason payout was $675,000. Under the new payment plan, Rahm would have received $12,208,750 for his FedEx Cup bonus — No. 1 going into the playoff, No. 4 after the BMW Championship and a tie for 21st in the Tour Championship. The Tour Championship effectively would have a $40 million purse, but the bonus money still will count as unofficial. The FedEx Cup points for the FedEx St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship will remain quadruple the value to allow for movement in the standings. The Comcast Business Tour Top 10 is still around, a $40 million bonus pool for the regular season. So for this year, whoever leads the FedEx Cup going into the postseason would get $10 million from the FedEx Cup bonus and $8 million from Comcast.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Djokovic steps up bid for Wimbledon history, Sinner strolls into round three
Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world number one Jannik Sinner cruised into round three on Thursday. But there was heartbreak for home favourite Jack Draper as he crashed out to former finalist Marin Cilic. Djokovic avoided becoming one of the host of big names eliminated in week one in south London as the Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court. "It means I've been playing quite a long time!" Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory. "I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special." Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history. The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open. Despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major. "I'm aware of the history on the line. I'm thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament," he said. Sinner is yet to reach a Wimbledon final, but the US and Australian Open champion has been ruthless in dropping just 12 games in his opening two matches. The Italian thrashed Australia's Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a third round clash against Spaniard Pedro Martinez. "We saw there have been so many upsets this tournament so we try to stay focused and raise our level," said Sinner. Draper's dream of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray as a British champion were dashed as 36-year-old Cilic rolled back the years. The Croatian, who is making his first Wimbledon appearance for four years after major knee surgery, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory. "The emotions I'm feeling are incredible," said Cilic, who lost the final to Roger Federer at the All England Club in 2017. "It's been a long journey but I never lost any doubt. This was a huge challenge, to come back and play at this level against Jack, in front of this crowd." Krejcikova's relief Only one of the top five seeds in the women's draw — world number one Aryna Sabalenka — is still standing. But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins. Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025. Despite not feeling 100 percent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro. "Definitely a huge relief," said the Czech. "I wasn't feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I'm really happy I won the third set." Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon's lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club. The former world number one dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. "For sure second and third set I played how I wanted to play," said Swiatek. Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1. Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged 18, beat Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).
