2024 PGA Tour

[FL4WL3SS]

The number of tour cards didn't change. Just the number that automatically keep their card. The point of that is to actually give new blood more opportunities.

Reducing the field to 144 is almost entirely about logistics. Finishing rounds 1 and 2 in the spring and fall is nearly impossible with 156.

That makes more sense

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

I actually think this is worse for the Tour long term. With less opportunities you're going to see less people choose golf and competition at the lower levels will suffer. This will eventually lead to a worse product on Tour.

Not sure I get this.

As noted, it sounds like this is really more about squeezing in too many rounds in available daylight.

However, I'm not sure I agree with the premise that less elite young / college players pursuing golf will actually lead to a worse product. The quality of play on tour in recent years is probably the best (and at least deepest) ever but I don't think the product is particularly good. The players are just too good at golf. Not just distance, all facets of the game.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

As noted, it sounds like this is really more about squeezing in too many rounds in available daylight.

However, I'm not sure I agree with the premise that less elite young / college players pursuing golf will actually lead to a worse product. The quality of play on tour in recent years is probably the best (and at least deepest) ever but I don't think the product is particularly good. The players are just too good at golf. Not just distance, all facets of the game.

I agree. I have a handful of kids under 16 at my club that are + handicaps. When I was in high school if you could break 40 for 9 holes you were good.

These kids are getting tons of instruction, trackman, better equipment. It's insane.

They all look like robots out there though.

 

[jercra]

I agree. I have a handful of kids under 16 at my club that are + handicaps. When I was in high school if you could break 40 for 9 holes you were good.

These kids are getting tons of instruction, trackman, better equipment. It's insane.

They all look like robots out there though.

Which is actually great for the game. It means you have really have to have something extra elite to make it to the TOUR level. I'm not sure how they can be too good to make things exciting. Every week there are shots and performances that are just mind-blowing. They have be insanely good in between those amazing shots, but it's really, really hard to back your way into a win these days.