PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on designated events and how they strengthen 2024 calendar | Golf News

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are among the players to support the change in the schedule in 2024, which includes no-cut events established to offer extra FedExCup points and a bigger purse; Jay Monahan discusses the future of the PGA Tour with Sky Sports during The Players at TPC Sawgrass

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stressed that changes to next season’s schedule will benefit all players in the membership and believes it will add more events to the golf calendar.

The PGA Tour announced earlier this month that the 2024 schedule will feature eight “designated events” that will have fields of 70-78 players and no cuts, all offering purses and FedExCup points.

Monahan said the changes would “change and set the future direction” for the PGA Tour, with the world’s best likely to compete more often, although the changes drew criticism from some players.

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Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Shane Lowry share their thoughts on the changes on the PGA Tour

“We’ve struck a good balance of keeping the number of events the same, strengthening the entire season, and raising the competitive bar here for every player on the PGA Tour,” Monahan said. exclusively to Sky Sports.

“The fans have responded well and our sponsors have always been very happy. Whenever you make a change, there are always going to be critics, and we know that.

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World No. 1, Jon Rahm claims that without LIV Golf, the PGA Tour will not make changes in its structure and shows that the proposed amendments are very positive for the players.

“If you look at where we were in the summer of last year, where many people had many questions about the events that were designated. Now, almost every Saturday and Sunday, we have an unbelievable and sometimes dizzying leaderboard, with players. have a chance to win.

“What I am most excited about – the competitive fabric of it. The best players in the world want to play together more often, they want to beat each other, and each player has the ability and opportunity – based on performance – to compete.”

Designated events will include the top 50 players from the previous year’s FedExCup standings, if they choose to feature, as well as golfers who have played their way through the full field event.

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After the announcement of some ‘radical’ changes to the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Billy Horschel react and discuss the reduction of the field and changes for those outside the top 50.

“If I’m a fan of the PGA Tour, I know at the beginning of the year where the best players are going to play this year and I know that I’m seeing more than I’ve ever seen before,” explained Monahan.

“It’s very important to emphasize that the only way you play in a given event is by performance and you have to be in the top 50 the year before or the hottest player of the year.

“This will not eliminate the entire event because with the limitations of the field, so the strength in the schedule, the developing storylines and the stars that will develop will continue in an inspiring way.”

Rory McIlroy is one of the golfers to support the changes, which come within a year of the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV circuit, while Monahan is enthusiastic about the future of the PGA Tour after a turbulent period in the sport.

“I saw what was happening on the course and the way the fans responded and the players played inspired golf – the way they responded was incredible,” added Monahan.

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Rory McIlroy says the emergence of LIV Golf has caused the PGA Tour to rethink its strategy and suggests that innovation for the tour will benefit all of professional golf.

“We’ve had a lot of announcements that give me more excitement, whether it’s Full Swing and the commitment for season two, whether it’s TGL and Monday Night Golf.

“There are a lot of things that show our stars to the world and that’s what gives me and the team joy and inspiration. Not only the players respond, but also the fans.”

Watch the PGA Tour during the 2023 season live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the final round of The Players begins on Sunday at 11.30am via the red button, before full coverage from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf.

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