“These changes are made in cool-kid meetings. They think we’re stupid,” the 2009 U.S. Open winner said, criticizing the PGA Tour’s upcoming 2026 policy changes, which will reduce field sizes and limit eligibility. The golfer believes that the decision-making process is exclusive and doesn’t take into account the broader player base, and believes the focus should be on enforcing pace-of-play rules rather than cutting opportunities for professionals.

Brian Harman, a Player Advisory Council member, admitted the changes are tough but said they’re meant to boost fairness and quality (though he gets that it’s hard to cut spots for players). But, the PGA Tour pro, Lucas Glover, has further pointed out the limitations of the AimPoint green-reading technique, calling it “disruptive,” “unnecessary,” and “rude” due to players stomping around the green to measure slope and break. And now, if that wasn’t enough to give the PGA Tour sleepless nights, the tour pro is on to something else.

Per the latest episode of SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio on Instagram, Glover expressed his frustration with the current format of the FedEx Cup playoffs. According to Glover, the changes have led to an overly dramatic and contrived competition. “Well, it’s so contrived now, and I’m sorry to keep using that term, but it is. It’s made-up drama. And you know, we tried to model this after racing, and it just doesn’t work. It’s golf. You know?” he said, criticizing the playoff system for deviating from the traditional approach to golf tournaments. Glover emphasized that golf’s nature doesn’t lend itself well to playoffs, as no player is eliminated, making the format feel forced.

Well, Glover’s comments are similar to what Scottie Scheffler expressed last year, sort of. Scheffler had called the current PGA Tour Championship format “silly,” arguing that it doesn’t fairly judge a player’s performance over the entire season. Moreover, Glover longs for the simplicity of the old system, where the reward for a strong season was reaching the Tour Championship. “Let’s just play golf. I mean, if you got a big lead, you got a big lead, you deserve to win. And, you know, before the FedEx Cup started in 2007, if you made it to the tour championship, you had a heck of a year all year, and the reward was getting there.” 

“And, you know, the money list or the Vardon trophy or whatever it may have been, well, that’s your end-of-the-year reward.” The Vardon Trophy, named after legendary golfer Harry Vardon, is a prestigious award given to the golfer with the best scoring average on the PGA Tour, highlighting the merit-based nature of golf’s traditional format. Glover believes that trying to model the FedEx Cup after racing doesn’t work, as the two sports have fundamentally different structures, but one PGA Tour pro begs to differ.

A push for change from Scottie Scheffler and other PGA pros

Fitzpatrick struck the same chord as Glover. He responded to Lucas Glover’s criticism of the PGA Tour’s proposed policy changes in a tweet.” “He’s so right,” Fitzpatrick wrote. “Pathetic that pace of play is spoken about every year and nothing ever gets done.”

So, the PGA Tour is exploring potential changes to the format of the Tour Championship, with match play having been ruled out due to concerns about TV ratings and competitiveness. Scottie Scheffler noted that “we were getting closer to where we need to be,” suggesting that players are working towards a compromise.

However, Scheffler expressed concerns about a match play format, saying, “The players did not want to play a format for the Tour Championship that was materially different from stroke play that they play all season long, and they found that to be silly.” He further emphasized the inconsistency, stating, “It’s hard to wrap your head around you play one style all season and then your final event is an entirely different format.”

As Adam Scott works towards making the FedEx Cup one of the biggest trophies in sports through his involvement in the PGA Tour’s policy board, the tour is looking to create a more straightforward and respected format. With significant changes potentially coming in 2026, this year might serve as a “bridge year.”

The players are working to get buy-in from TV networks and sponsors before finalizing the new format. Scottie Scheffler emphasized that securing player support is crucial before moving forward with a board vote, saying, “It’s a good start. Look, things have to move quickly now. I’d be surprised if it isn’t dealt with in the next couple of weeks.” What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comment section below!