One-time PGA Tour winner Charlie Beljan is planning on leaving the PGA Tour. Reason? He is joining the Grass League’s Scottsdale Strikers. For those who are unaware, the Grass League is a par-3 league, with a fast-paced team format (two-player teams) in a scramble or short-hole format. As a relatively new independent contractor, the league is attempting to position itself as a novel golf entertainment product. On Saturday, Todd Dobson confirmed the news. While the terms of the contract are still under discussion, the Grass League officially welcomed Beljan. Now, a question arises: Why does Beljan need to relinquish his membership to compete in a newer league a few times a year?

The answer simply lies in the Tour’s rigid policies. From golf analysts to fans, everyone has taken to criticizing the PGA Tour’s bureaucratic hold over the sport. Monday Q School invoked the exact question on X, sharing Dobson’s post.

“Truly insane that a guy who doesn’t get into any PGA Tour events has to give up his membership to play in a par-three league a few times a year,” he wrote.

The Tour’s punishing stance, identifying denied access to the Grass League for its members, alongside the Korn Ferry Tour and the Champions Tour. It suggests the PGA Tour’s attempts at forcing exclusivity and a monopolistic hold on golf. Further, it raises whether its rules are too rigid and stifling to golfers who might need to deviate, like Beljan. Yeah, he’s not among the top leaders today, and that keeps him out of most PGA Tour events. However, the board’s restrictive rules leave no other option to Beljan.

Tee Times didn’t hesitate to call out the PGA Tour leadership for this absurd restriction on other leagues. Reposting Monday Q School’s post.

“Brian Rolapp could fix this in 15 seconds if he wanted to. These things are not set in stone in any way, shape, or form. He just doesn’t want to change it. Jay Monahan 2.0 thus far,” the page mentioned.

It’s safe to say, Tee Time wasn’t subtle when throwing shade. The new CEO, with promises of a major overhaul, has thus far kept his silence on matters like these. The fandom knows that Rolapp has the choice to make changes to the rule book, yet chooses to do otherwise. That doesn’t make him any different from his predecessor, Jay Monahan, whom the golf community criticized for his unwillingness to change.

However, it’s not just the newer leagues that suffer from this.

The rivalry with LIV is a long-standing feud. However, it’s the golfers who bear the impact of this argument. From suspensions over LIV influencer events to indefinite periods of ban, the PGA Tour has been constantly called out for its marginalizing rules.

But this time, golf fans have spoken up against the Tour, reflecting widespread sentiments of disappointment with the board.

Fans call out the PGA Tour for its monopolistic approach

Charlie Beljan’s leave from the PGA Tour reflects the golfers’ backlash, as opportunities fizzle out within the membership. One fan made direct comparisons with the 2022-23 LIV Golf fiasco, with the Tour trying to enforce exclusivity and treating the golfers as salaried employees rather than independent athletes.

They wrote, “Apparently, the PGA Tour (& their esteemed Commissioner) didn’t learn anything from the LIV fiasco. You don’t get to own Independent Contractors.”

Another fan agreed with the statement, commenting, “It’s eye-rolling. These guys are independent contractors and the tour treats them like salaried employees with an iron-clad non-compete.”

Reflecting the fragile fan trust, one user wrote, “The PGA Tour is right on the precipice of having their entire totalitarian iron-fist strategy backfire spectacularly in their face. Imagine if they were to lose guys like Rory or Scottie this winter.” This commentary comes from the past golfers hauling to LIV out of internal politics fatigue. Top stars like Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia moved to the Saudi-backed league, causing direct harm to the Tour.

Another fan didn’t flinch when throwing shade on the PGA Tour, with a GIF saying, “We own you.” They paired it with the caption: “PGA Tour to players,” calling out the board’s attitude towards its members. Taking a sharp dig at the board’s bureaucratic approach, one fan wrote: “The @PGATOUR continues to demonstrate nothing but greed and vindictiveness. I hope they lose a billion dollars on the stupid TGL bs they’re wrecking their tour to finance.”

Apparently, the TGL is receiving a lot of sharp commentary. One fan even declared the Grass League to be a better entertainment than the indoor event. They commented: “It’s a threat to TGL. Better product. More entertaining. Paige S involved is smart.” Spiranac is involved with the new league for a front office role.

Clearly, the golfing world is disappointed in the PGA Tour. With players like Beljan leaving for the Grass League, it’s only a matter of time Tour experiences another massive overhaul to the par three league.