Lower Line: PGA Tour proposes change however fall considerations stay

No PGA Tour golf, no drawback with this week’s version unpacking the circuit’s plan to chop area sizes and taking part in alternatives, and a breakdown of the autumn schedule’s future.

Made Lower

A senior second. With subsequent week’s PGA Tour Champions finale in Phoenix, Arizona, looming, and a uncommon bye week for the PGA Tour, it’s apropos to acknowledge one of many fall’s greatest feel-good tales.

Tim O’Neal’s path to his breakthrough victory on the over-50 circuit had taken him to just about each nook {of professional} golf and when the 52-year-old began the ultimate spherical on the Dominion Vitality Charity Basic two weeks in the past, he was eight years faraway from his final victory on any main tour.

“I don’t know. It was simply the way it was speculated to occur, I assume,” mentioned O’Neal, who received his first PGA Tour Champions occasion with a closing 65 on the Nation Membership of Virginia to qualify for subsequent week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

For a participant who spent his complete profession toiling on the cusp of the main leagues, O’Neal’s breakthrough is the autumn’s greatest story.

Made Lower-Did Not End (MDF)

A brand new period. Tuesday’s memo outlining the proposed plan to chop area sizes at almost each Tour occasion together with a corresponding discount in unconditional memberships was acquired with blended critiques, however there have been some who embraced the overall concept of the plan, if not the execution.

“We must always have accomplished this a very long time in the past,” mentioned one Tour participant.

The very best instance of how bloated the Tour membership had change into may be traced to the circuit’s precedence rankings, which set the order for the way fields are crammed. There are at the moment 44 classes on that listing, from main champions to “veteran members.” Beneath the proposed plan, that will be lowered to 23 classes with an total discount in full memberships of about 20 %.

If authorized later this month on the yr’s last coverage board assembly, the plan would minimize the variety of full exemptions to the highest 100 — down from the highest 125 —from the earlier season’s FedExCup factors listing; the highest 20 — down from the highest 30 — from the earlier season’s Korn Ferry Tour factors listing; and likewise cut back the variety of sponsor exemptions and open qualifying spots at some occasions.

The purpose behind the modifications was to search out “excellent area sizes” which might enhance tempo of play, storytelling and maintain occasions on schedule. The plan would, based on the memo, additionally present a extra degree taking part in area for many who do have full standing.

The Tour’s transfer to enhance the product within the face of competitors from LIV Golf and the introduction of personal fairness into the skilled recreation is each comprehensible and admirable, however tectonic sifts just like the proposed plan virtually at all times include unintended penalties.