The PGA Tour is contemplating a new plan aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of its circuit, which includes a proposal to reduce the number of tournament cards issued through the FedEx Cup. This initiative seeks to decrease player fields, thus making it easier for fans to engage with the sport.
As part of the proposal, the Tour plans to lessen the number of cards allocated to players from the Korn Ferry Tour by 10 and will eliminate Monday qualifying for events with fewer than 144 competitors.
This proposal, which was shared with players on Tuesday and was crafted by the 16-member Player Advisory Council beginning in May, is aimed at restructuring how players earn their spots in tournaments. Currently, the system prioritizes tournament winners and the top 125 players in the FedEx Cup standings, with benefits linked to their rankings. The proposed change would elevate the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup, along with ten players from the European Tour, the top 20 from the Korn Ferry Tour, and five qualifiers from Q-school, granting them full playing status.
Additionally, there would be a separate category for players ranked from 101 to 125 in terms of priority.
The impetus for these adjustments stems from concerns about an excessively crowded player pool, which has hindered the development of younger players transitioning from the Korn Ferry Tour. Many players have reported difficulties in securing spots in tournaments despite earning their cards through various mechanisms.
Another significant issue the proposal seeks to address is the persistent problem of slow play, which has long been attributed to an overabundance of players on the course. To mitigate this, the plan suggests limiting field sizes to 120 players before Daylight Savings Time, expanding to as many as 132 players, and peaking at 144 during the summer months.
For regular tournaments, these field size adjustments will be implemented, while the eight high-stakes signature events offering $20 million purses would continue to limit participation to a maximum of 72 players.
In addition to altering player distribution, the proposal also includes recommendations for modifying the points allocation for the FedEx Cup.
The PGA Tour’s policy board is scheduled to vote on these proposed changes during its meeting on November 11. Should the board approve the adjustments, the implementation is projected for 2026.