Widely involved in the changes to the PGA Tour’s “Elevated Tournaments” in 2024, Rory Mcilroy has spoken out in defense of the PGA Tour’s choices to favor reduced fields and no cut. The American Tour has confirmed that from next year several of the most lucrative tournaments will be held in a format that does not provide for a cut after two rounds and that they will be reserved for an elite of 70 to 80 players.
Rory McIlroy, statements
The changes, which were first rumored on social media on Wednesday afternoon, were reportedly approved by the PGA Tour board of directors at a meeting on Tuesday before being shared with players.
If you ask Mastercard to pay 20 million dollars to sponsor a tournament, they ask you in exchange for the guarantee of seeing the stars on the weekend. You have to accept having to go through this
Obviously the critics were not long in coming and comparisons with the Liv Golf, the controversial circuit of Greg Norman financed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, flourished on Twitter.
Asked at a press conference ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy insisted that the changes had been decided in the interest of the circuit but also with all the players on the PGA Tour in mind, not only the highest ranked .
“Obviously I was part of the discussions and I approve because I think it makes the circuit more competitive. I think it creates a much more attractive product,” says the Northern Irishman. “If you are a gamer you will no longer have to wait a whole year to build on your good results with new playing opportunities.
These opportunities are available to you immediately. » “By playing well for two or three weeks, a player can enter a “Designated Event”. And if he continues to play well, he does not come out of it. For example, someone like Chris Kirk last week winning the Honda Classic will be one of them.
Winning is really what will count on this circuit. Playing well will be better rewarded. » The issue of the lack of a cut was also addressed. Golf lovers fear that this principle established in order to better remunerate the best players after 4 rounds but also to give the chance to more candidates at the start of the tournament will disappear.
They regret that the PGA Tour somehow aligns with a LIV practice that jeopardizes the concept of meritocracy. “We have always had tournaments without a cut on this circuit. Remember the four WGC (World Championships), there are also the 3 FedEx Cup Playoff tournaments. there is the CJ Cup, the ZOZO”, explains Rory McIlroy.
Source: tennisworldusa