Eddie Pepperell believes the PGA Tour needs to rethink its 2024 schedule when it comes to the removal of the halfway cut in designated events.
The PGA Tour propose to switch-up their designated series from next year to ensure the top players play all four rounds of their bumper $20m limited field tournaments, thought to comprise 70-78 players.
America’s tour has sponsors’ interests in mind but not necessarily the integrity of the game – surprising given how heavily they’ve leaned on tradition in the ongoing battle with disruptors LIV Golf.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Pepperell aired his concerns and declared that no-cut events have no place at the top table of golf.
“No cuts and smaller fields, I don’t think have any place in the top table of golf,” he said.
“I think cuts bring about a great storyline and are unique to golf. They can elicit some really important lessons you can learn from.
“Matt Wallace himself said he missed the cut at The Players by one or two shots and then look what he did [won on Sunday at Puntacana]. That’s why you have a cut.
“Missing the cut at The Players was gut-wrenching for someone like Wallace but he went home and won his next tournament. What are we trying to breed as an industry and into our top players? I don’t think it’s any good.”
DP World Tour regular Pepperell has also questioned the PGA Tour’s relationship with Europe’s tour in light of the changes, believing the revamp in America from next year will dis-incentivise players from competing in Europe.
“I think the strategic alliance is not under threat but certainly it would make sense to put more of a microscope on it and say ‘where is the alliance?’,” Pepperell said.
“I know these latest round of changes have taken people high up on our tour aback. These changes on the PGA Tour were player-driven, not by [commissioner] Jay Monahan and his team but by 25 top players.
“Jay doesn’t really have much choice but to go along with them by and large if he wants to keep a few big players on his tour so you can see why they get implemented.
“But make no bones about it, it certainly raises the alarm bells for us a tour to say where is this strategic alliance and how is it going to work? Another layer has been put in.
“When these 10 [PGA Tour] cards were agreed upon, you could argue it weakens our tour the year after but remember the incentive that brings guys to come and play our tour as well.
“That has been made even harder now with these latest changes.”
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