[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media]CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council met this afternoon in person at Castle Pines (and via Zoom for members of the 16-person PAC not in the field this week at the BMW Championship) at 5 p.m. ET to discuss a range of eligibility proposals that would impact field sizes and number of Tour cards beginning as early as 2026.
Changes in eligibility could reshape the Tour as we know it, and would be the most significant change since the All-Exempt Tour for the top 125 was implemented in 1983.
“You have to get it done for 2026 – 2025 is baked in – but it has to be set in motion so guys know what they are playing for (next season),” said a source who asked for anonymity because of that person’s involvement in the discussions.
Another tour pro, who participated in the call, told Golfweek that they didn’t reach an agreement on a recommendation to send to the Board for a vote. (The PAC doesn’t actually vote.) “Just informational and discussion,” the player wrote in a text. “Actually a positive call and very collaborative between players and leadership.”
The idea being discussed is to shape the schedule so the best players continue to play against each other as much as possible but also allow all exempt players to have a fair shake at keeping their card and making the all-important top 50, which guarantees entry into the Signature events.
Speaking in June, Lanto Griffin, a member of the PAC, told Golfweek there’s support among the PAC for reducing tournament sizes to 120 players across the board regardless of regular or signature event. To do so, they would reduce the number of players that keep exempt status from 125 and staggering down to a lower figure – perhaps 100 – over the course of several years.
It has become a growing concern that field sizes of 144 and 156 are causing too many occurrences of failing to make a cut on Friday due to not enough daylight. Reducing field sizes brings the question of how many members can the Tour realistically have and still provide enough starts. While fewer playing opportunities may be a tough sell to the full membership, the trade-off may be increasing the field size at signature events from 70 and give more players a chance to play in the big money, elevated FedEx Cup point events.
“We want every single player who earns a full Tour card to have a fair opportunity to compete on the PGA Tour,” a player wrote.
Details still need to be ironed, but a player wrote, “good momentum.”
If the PAC approves the eligibility changes, the Policy Board could sign off for the changes to be implemented for the 2026 season at its next meeting in November at Sea Island ahead of the RSM Classic.
