With the PGA Tour year officially wrapping up at the conclusion of last week’s RSM Classic, the jury remains out on the new format, particularly among those who were forced to play a heavy FedEx Cup Fall schedule to either retain their playing rights or to push their way into the first two ‘Signature Events’ for 2024.
Even for somebody who’s paid to keep an interest and report on all things golf, without the big names or Irish involvement, it’s hard to get too excited about the Sanderson Farms or the Butterfield Bermuda Championships. But is that really any different to previous years? Last year we had Seamus Power contending and winning at Port Royal in Bermuda, but without that, it would’ve been easy-miss TV for an Irish audience and was easy-miss TV for the majority of the golfing world.
But with the new format, that’s what we’re supposed to see. This is the chaff, and there’s been a full year to separate the wheat. Those ranked 51 and up have had plenty of opportunities to secure their playing rights, and realistically anybody inside the top 80 would have to play horribly and have a lot of bad luck to see themselves fall outside the top 125 by the end of the series.
The game’s stars have been calling for a proper off-season for ages, and they’ve finally got one. There is no fear of dusting off the clubs in late December and starting the season in January only to find yourself well down the FedEx rankings and needing a fast start. It also gives them increased opportunity to play overseas, and next year’s DP World Tour ‘Back 9’ swing could see several big names opting to tee it up in Europe, possibly even coming for the Irish Open.
Whether they will or not is anybody’s guess. Justin Thomas and Max Homa did make the trip to South Africa for the Nedbank Challenge, Collin Morikawa went to Japan for the ZoZo – a PGA Tour event, but still a trip he could’ve easily missed – but apart from that, we saw very few top players competing after the Ryder Cup.
What it definitely does do, however, is make every ranking point earned once the 2024 season gets underway extra valuable, because nobody wants to be facing next year’s FedEx Fall series with their 2025 cards on the line, and a fast start to the year could see you play your way into the Signature Events where guaranteed money and guaranteed points are on offer.
The Fall Series are essentially second tier events, even if they offer prizemoney in excess of $8 million, and the players competing in them know as much. Such is the lifestyle that PGA Tour pros have become accustomed to that Mark Hubbard, who goes by the nickname of ‘Homeless Hubbs’ thanks to his often dishevelled appearance and history of sleeping on floors on the mini-tour grind, addressed how these ‘second tier’ events differed from the regular season stops.
“It’s tough for me to see how it’s going to be sustainable,” said Hubbard, one of six players to compete in all seven fall tournaments and an impressive if exhausting 39 tournaments in 14 months. “For me, I think there was a noticeable difference in the tournaments and just like how much the course kind of rolled out the red carpet for us and whatnot, you know, just little stuff like courtesy cars or hotel room blocks or the food. Everything just kind of felt like they were probably trying to save a little bit of money because they’re not getting, you know, the turnout, they’re not getting the big names.”
To be clear, Hubbard wasn’t complaining about not getting the ‘red carpet’ treatment, he was merely observing the difference.
$8 million purses are unsustainable for run of the mill events with sub-standard fields, but as second tier events, $8 million is way too much anyway. Earning your full card for the following season and having the opportunity to play your way into the big-money events should be enough of a carrot that even playing for half the money is more than worth it if the points remain the same.
And there were still some pretty big stories. Erik van Rooyen winning, climbing from outside the top 125 and guaranteeing his card through 2025 was one, especially when he dedicated the victory to his best-man who was on his death bed and has since passed away. Camilo Villegas winning was another, given everything the one-time Colombian sensation has been through with a loss of form and the tragic death of his 22-month-old daughter.
Not to mention Ludvig Aberg getting his first PGA Tour win and booking himself a place in The Sentry in January and the Tiger Woods hosted Genesis Invitational later that month. It seemed only a matter of time anyway, but thanks to the Fall Series, another of the rising stars will take his seat at the top table.
For far too long, the PGA Tour has catered for the many and not looked after the few. That’s the reason why LIV came about in the first place.
So whether it piques your interest or not, the FedEx Fall Series is a big step in the right direction.
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