Rory McIlroy had no concerns about sharing his ‘unpopular’ opinion on the future of the PGA Tour at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, and one major champion agrees.
Wyndham Clark has expressed his support for Rory McIlroy’s plea for the PGA Tour to adopt a more ruthless approach in awarding Tour cards to its members.
McIlroy raised this concern during the Arnold Palmer Invitational, acknowledging that his viewpoint might not be well-received but emphasizing his willingness to voice it. “I am fully in favor of intensifying the competition and making it more cut-throat,” he stated at Bay Hill on Friday.
“I understand that my opinion may not be popular, but I believe in having fewer players and fewer Tour cards, ensuring that only the absolute best compete.” McIlroy reiterated his stance the following day after completing his third round in Florida.
Expressing his desire to witness a fresh influx of talent in the PGA Tour, he advocated for reducing exemptions for players nearing the end of their careers rather than those at the beginning. He further emphasized his support for a more cutthroat and competitive environment, aiming to provide opportunities for the younger generation.
He suggested implementing pathways such as the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour to facilitate this transition. Instead of relying on past achievements from five or ten years ago, he believed that the Tour should prioritize current performance and require players to consistently prove themselves year after year.
It is undeniable that McIlroy’s suggestions will not be well-received by several PGA Tour stars. However, he has gained support from fellow major champion Clark. Clark, who is currently in contention to win his second PGA Tour event of the season at Bay Hill, expressed his thoughts on McIlroy’s position. In fact, he took it a step further by urging the Tour to restrict its membership to only 100 players. “I believe it would be remarkable if our Tour consisted of just a hundred individuals,” he asserted.
Clark proposed implementing a relegation system, similar to their competitors at LIV Golf. He emphasized that regardless of one’s status, every year, 20 individuals out of a hundred would be relegated. Clark believed that this system would add excitement to the sport.
He explained that towards the end of the year, spectators focus on the race for the FedExCup winner, but they also become interested in who will not be participating the following year. Clark agreed with Rory’s viewpoint on this matter, although he was unsure about the exact number of players to be relegated. Nonetheless, he believed that enhancing the quality of the sport and ensuring that the best players compete against each other more frequently on television would be beneficial.
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