Rory McIlroy has said a lot of things the last few years. He’s been a PGA Tour leader, defender, board member, etc. Every Tour pro’s opinion matters, but McIlroy’s has weight. Which is why he continues to get asked about the structure of a future Tour, and what that would look like if he was in charge. He’s been generous with his time and interested in talking. We can appreciate that.
This week, McIlroy stirred controversy by suggesting that the PGA Tour should adopt a more competitive approach, advocating for a reduction in the number of PGA Tour cards. Essentially, he proposed a smaller Tour. He acknowledged that this perspective may not be well-received, but that doesn’t necessarily make it incorrect.
McIlroy shared this viewpoint on Friday and elaborated on it further when questioned on Saturday. If the Tour were to become more cutthroat in terms of player numbers, what would the ideal total membership be – 100 players? 150 players? Even fewer?
McIlroy expressed his views on the matter by stating, “I haven’t given it much thought.” However, I believe that he has indeed contemplated this issue extensively. The reason being is that he advocates for a more cutthroat and competitive environment, as well as providing opportunities for the younger generation. He emphasizes the importance of proving oneself continuously on the most competitive professional golf tour in the world.
I do not possess a direct insight into McIlroy’s thoughts, however, I would consider the initial statement to be a minor falsehood. I speculate that he has given considerable contemplation to the matter. What could be the reason behind this?
1. Throughout the most transformative period in the history of the PGA Tour, he dedicated nearly two entire years to serving on the PGA Tour Policy Board. This era was marked by the introduction of exclusive limited-field tournaments, which primarily featured the top players and recent standout performers. He extensively analyzed the disparities between 50, 70, and 90-person fields, envisioning an elite tour consisting of 50, 70, or 90 exceptional players. McIlroy actively participated in numerous meetings, attentively absorbing the perspectives of numerous fellow professionals, as the Tour underwent a profound evolution towards a hierarchical structure. Undoubtedly, he has given considerable thought to this matter.
2. McIlroy has been quite candid about his opinion previously. Despite being repeatedly questioned about these structural matters every time he competes – a situation that warrants our sympathy, given that it has been extensively documented – he has consistently expressed the same sentiment for a considerable period of time.
In the 2023 Genesis Invitational, McIlroy emphasized the importance of having the best players participate in the PGA Tour’s major events to enhance the overall value of the product.
A year later, he reiterated the significance of shooting better scores to secure a spot in the upper echelon fields. This strategy aims to promote competitiveness and ensure that only the most deserving players gain Tour membership and access to its prestigious events.
Tour players typically gain entry into events based on a priority ranking system. If they have emerged victorious in a tournament within the past two seasons, they will qualify under the “former winner” category. Similarly, if they have won the FedEx Cup in the last five years, such as Viktor Hovland did a year ago, they will hold a higher position on the ranking list, which is considered a more favorable qualification category. Major-winners from the previous five years are given the highest ranking, which is well-deserved. The higher a player is positioned on the list, the greater their access to Tour events. In other words, the higher their ranking, the fewer competitors are capable of displacing them and preventing their participation in a particular field.
Despite being consistently ranked as one of the best players in the world, McIlroy believes that the ranking system is more significant for players with a lesser track record. It is particularly important for those who are striving to maintain their status or have experienced a decline in their performance. McIlroy argues that the current ranking system allows professionals to participate in tournaments in 2024 based on achievements from previous years, such as 2018, 2019, or 2020.
Although McIlroy does not explicitly mention any names, he implies that there are certain players who continue to gain entry into tournaments based on past accomplishments, despite their recent lack of form. One such player is Jason Dufner, who only has limited access to tournaments.
Jason Dufner participated in only one Tour event this year, aligning with his performance over the past few seasons (no top 125 FEC finishes since 2018). This event was The AmEx, for which Dufner qualified as a former champion, having won in 2016. Being a past champion of specific events ranks 17th in priority, higher than some players who made it to the Tour Championship in 2023. In essence, this means that for that particular week, Jason Dufner’s entry takes precedence over players like Tommy Fleetwood or Cameron Young.
A distinct scenario pertains to Webb Simpson, as he has failed to secure a position within the top 125 of the FedEx Cup rankings in the past two seasons. Despite this, he emerged victorious in the Players Championship in 2018, granting him a 5-year exemption on the Tour. Given that the 2020 season does not impact these exemptions, much like the Covid redshirt rule in collegiate sports, Simpson is currently utilizing the final year of his exemption from a triumph that occurred 11 months prior to Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters victory.
Simpson’s performance in 2024 has not been impressive, but he doesn’t need to worry about his status for 2025. This is because he falls into the category of top 50 career earnings, which grants him a season-long exemption that ranks 11th on the list. Simpson currently holds the 15th position in all-time career earnings, allowing him to participate in Tour events based on his past achievements, even if his current form doesn’t improve.
Simpson is not the only golfer benefiting from such exemptions. Francesco Molinari, thanks to his victory in the 2018 Open Championship, continues to receive numerous starts through a 5-year exemption. Despite not performing well in the FedEx Cup since 2019 and having more missed cuts than successful ones in the last three years, Molinari can still participate in any non-Signature Event of his choice this year. His Open victory has proven to be advantageous for him.
Charley Hoffman’s situation presents an intriguing case. Despite not finishing within the top 125 in the FedEx Cup rankings for the past two years, he can still participate in any non-Signature event due to his exemption as one of the top 50 all-time earners. This season, Hoffman showcased his skills at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he narrowly lost in a playoff to Nick Taylor. Although he didn’t emerge as the champion, Hoffman accumulated valuable FedEx Cup points, which he can utilize to gain entry into any event he desires next season.
In Rory McIlroy’s ideal scenario, would Hoffman have been granted access to the WMPO? It’s possible. McIlroy’s concern with the current system lies not in considering players like Hoffman for Tour membership, but rather the potential higher priority ranking they may receive compared to the emerging talents from the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, or even PGA Tour University. The year 2024 has proven to be particularly challenging for players lower down the priority list to secure spots in major events such as the WMPO. Only a select few players from the DP World Tour managed to attain a high enough ranking to participate, and only the top performer from the Korn Ferry Tour earned his place.
Should Hoffman and other performers maintain a sense of prestige based on their past accomplishments for an extended period of time? In some ways, yes, but should emerging talents have to endure fewer chances as a consequence? This is the topic that McIlroy believes should be addressed at the highest echelons.
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