When a golfer speaks up about the PGA Tour’s inner workings, fans listen. Michael Kim has become one of those rare players who doesn’t shy away from sharing his honest take on the policies shaping modern golf. Be it the changes to field sizes or the new qualification systems, Kim’s comments have always been honest. For instance, when the PGA Tour announced a field reduction towards the end of 2024, the 2018 John Deere Classic champion was among the first to share his honest opinion.

Kim said that he was not a fan of those changes, but they were necessary. “To be honest, I don’t love the changes but that’s probably because I feel threatened by the number of cards going down from 125 to 100,” he wrote in his X post. However, despite not liking the changes, the PGA Tour pro acknowledged that the changes were necessary. “If I’m looking at it objectively, it was needed,” he said. These qualities of sharing honest opinions are what make fans wonder if he should be on the Player Advisory Council on the PGA Tour. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Michael Kim shared his thoughts on the same.

During the EssentiallySports exclusive interview, the spokesperson asked Kim, “About the Twitter thing, and how vocal you are about all the policy changes and everything that is there, like any chances of you getting on the Player Advisory Council on the PGA Tour? Maybe in the future?” Michael Kim took a few seconds to think, but he was clear about what he wanted to do. “I don’t think so. I think the guys on the board, like they spend a lot of hours, I mean, meetings and Zoom meetings, it becomes another job, and the golf and Tour keep me plenty busy enough. I really appreciate what those guys on the board do, so I support them the way I can, but I don’t see myself joining that pack anytime soon,” the PGA Tour pro admitted.

The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council (PAC) for 2025 comprises 16 members. It includes some of the prominent names, such as Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, and others. However, Kim made it clear that he doesn’t see himself joining the pack through the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview. The members of the council indeed need to take out extra time to make any important decisions that can impact all the golfers on the tour.

Kim’s candid perspective highlights the variety of opinions shaping the sport. With so many voices in play, it will be interesting to see how the PGA Tour policy changes taking effect from the 2026 season unfold.

PGA Tour policy changes taking effect from the 2026 season

The major policy changes that will take effect from the 2026 season include eligibility and field size changes. Even veterans like Gary McCord have backed these changes, as they can improve the quality of play.

Exempt status will change from top 125 players in the FedExCup standings to top 100, with conditional status for finishers 101-125. This is the primary change Michael Kim shared his opinion about in his X post.

The number of PGA Tour cards available to top Korn Ferry Tour finishers will decrease from 30 to 20. Additionally, DP World Tour will maintain 10 cards, and PGA Tour Q-School will be capped at five cards (no ties). The reduction in field size is aimed at preventing slow play.

Some field changes were also announced. The maximum field size for open tournaments played on one course will reduce from 156 to 144 players, then further to 132 or 120 as daylight requires. The Players Championship will reduce its field from 144 to 120 players. Most tournaments played on multiple courses will maintain a field size of 156 players, except the Farmers Insurance Open, which will be 144 players.

Do you think Michael Kim is right to deny the possibility, or do you want to see him on the PGA Tour Players Advisory Council? Share your thoughts in the comments.