PGA Tour needs a reboot

Overseas media criticism of the PGA Tour and suggestions of how to strengthen and improve it raised many pertinent thoughts.

Obviously, leading the way was to bring back many of the games best players and biggest drawcards such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, the polarising Patrick Reed and several other leading LIV players.

New chief executive Brian Rolapp said he was “interested in exploring whatever strengthens the PGA Tour.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 20: PGA TOUR CEO, Brian Rolapp, speaks to the media during a press conference prior to TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

How he can get these players back in the mix, or if it is even possible, remains to be seen. At this stage any deal between the PGA Tour and the LIV is nowhere to be seen. So what are some of the issues that the PGA Tour needs to deal with?

Firstly sort out the disparity in the schedule which some feel is far too long. We now have full field events, the limited field signature events with no cut plus those tournaments now that rarely feature any top 50 ranked players, or in some cases many top 100.

Television ratings are affected as is prize money, all impinging on loyal sponsors. The schedule needs to be streamlined with some lesser events elevated or removed to the second tier Korn Ferry Tour. All these things affect the rank and file players and sponsors.

Secondly the signature events are having a dubious effect with their limited fields. Players earn their place on the PGA Tour with a tour card. Why should they be excluded from a significant number of regular tour events.

Rolapp has already extolled the strength of the players and the “anyone can win” mantra. So if a player has his card he should be able to play in every regular tour event, signature or otherwise. If it is so important to have stronger fields, cut the number of PGA Tour cards per event to 100. Also bring back a cut in every event.

Next, pace of play is a killer for viewer interest and it was ironic it took a woman’s comments during the Farmers Insurance Open that went viral to spur some action. Dottie Pepper said on the broadcast: “I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace of play issue, and it’s respect … for your fellow competitors, the fans, for broadcasters, for all of it. It’s just gotta get better.”

Six-hour rounds on a Sunday on a difficult course when the wind gets up are simply not on. Slow play is like a never ending nightmare and a big turnoff for all.

The television coverage also comes under the spotlight. Viewers just want to see more shots, fewer commercials and some interaction between players and their caddies when lining up their shots. So maybe it is time to mic up players and caddies.

Particularly might this apply to those in contention playing the final two holes of an event. Showing more shots from more players is a definite work on. Too much of glacial dinosaurs like Patrick Cantlay or Keegan Bradley or others of their ilk preparing for their shots would send anyone to sleep. Plus we don’t need to see players walking at some length from A to B or too many players who are way outside the cut line. The tour needs to study and adopt some of LIV golfs coverage as they will show as much as 50 per cent more shots at any given time.

The next one is purely a US college gripe. College stars should be allowed to move straight on to the tour if they are good enough. Luke Clanton had success while still at college and Nick Dunlap won the AmEx last year as an amateur. Ludvig Aberg and Jon Rahm came straight from college and were immediately competitive. Perhaps up to five each year could be allowed to move up.

Let’s play on better courses is another criticism. Some say there are too many tree lined parkland courses. Surely in a country as vast as the USA the tour can find some linksy courses or Pebble Beach type courses that create interest. Think New Zealand and what Christchurch Golf Club produced at Shirley Links and the remarkable Tieke golf course near Hamilton. Find courses like these.

Finally, are the FedEx Cup playoffs past their use by date? Yes I say. It is supposed to be the greatest win for a PGA Tour player. It doesn’t feel like it. The playoffs are a farce. What are they trying to achieve? Of course they are trying to create a grand finale of excitement and entertainment. But who needs it? Not the players or the fans. So what to do?

Why not, for the last two or three events, allocate extra points with perhaps double points for the final one. Then there would be real pressure on performing well, especially for the points leaders. Ultimately though the season-long points leader would get his just reward as Scottie Scheffler should if he sees out 2025 on top.

If some extra finale is needed perhaps have a 32 man matchplay event. But really what’s the point? No, the time has come for the PGA Tour to grow up and get back to its core roots and stop trying to eliminate its perceived opposition, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour which it has harmed hugely in recent years. Perhaps Rolapp can redress the damage done during Jay Monahan’s reign.