Minimize Line: Slicing playing cards could possibly be within the PGA Tour’s future

On this week’s version, we have a good time the return of Fortress Pines to the PGA Tour panorama, Max Homa’s return to social media and a voice of cause to the player-of-the-year dialog.

Made Minimize

One thing new. To be correct, Fortress Pines was a staple on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 2006 because the host venue of The Worldwide, however for a era of gamers and followers, this week’s BMW Championship is a mile-high present.

At 8,130 yards, Fortress Pines is the longest course to host a Tour occasion and the rolling format simply south of Denver is a magical mixture of mountain views and monstrous drives.

The responsible pleasure that’s golf at altitude produced a 395-yard drive on the first gap for Rory McIlroy on Day 1 — which wasn’t even near the day’s longest on the par-4 opener (Taylor Pendrith’s 418-yard drive led the day) — and maddening “altitude” math that produced loads of wonderful player-caddie content material.

Past the compelling mixture of skinny air and elite athletes, there’s additionally the advantage of a significant event being held in a serious market with most of the recreation’s greatest gamers, one thing the present Tour schedule is essentially missing.

Transparency. Whereas the golf media (together with your scribe) has spent the previous couple of weeks debating potential PGA Tour participant of the yr candidates, Xander Schauffele put a bow on the dialog in a really Xander-like approach this week.

“I’ve received two occasions and [Scottie Scheffler has] received seven. We each have a variety of top-10s. That’s sort of how I’m drawing it up. I do know that’s the way you guys draw it up,” Schauffele stated. “He’s been enjoying unbelievable golf. I really feel like we’re all simply chasing him. I’ve finished in all probability the very best job of getting the closest to him, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very far-off.”

It was an excessive sports-radio method to body the narrative and ignores how the membership, who vote on participant of the yr, would possibly view Schauffele successful the FedExCup with a victory subsequent week at East Lake.

However even that situation probably wouldn’t change many minds in relation to who deserves the Jack Nicklaus Award. It definitely doesn’t appear related to Schauffele.

Made Minimize-Did Not End (MDF)

Contraction. Change pushed by an irrational pressure appears inevitable with the Tour’s coverage board set to assessment a plan that will considerably scale back the full variety of exempt gamers.

The PAC met on Tuesday at Fortress Pines Golf Membership, web site of this week’s BMW Championship.

The plan, which was introduced to the circuit’s Participant Advisory Council this week in Colorado and could possibly be carried out as early as 2026, would cut back discipline sizes for full-field occasions to 120 gamers and, in the end, reduce the variety of exempt gamers to the highest 100 (down from the highest 125) from the earlier season’s FedExCup factors listing and the highest 20 (down from the highest 30) from the earlier season’s Korn Ferry Tour factors listing.

Some gamers have argued that the proposed plan would, in concept, create a extra aggressive product however provided that the signature occasions, which have been capped between 72 and 80 gamers, have been expanded. Bigger signature occasions would give the gamers off the Korn Ferry and DP World excursions a greater probability to compete in opposition to the sport’s greatest, however in line with one member of the PAC, the Tour isn’t more likely to increase signature occasion discipline sizes as a tradeoff for smaller tee sheets at full-field occasions.

Of all the teachings discovered over the past three years it’s odd that the Tour continues to battle with the notion that typically much less isn’t all the time extra.

Tweet (now X) of the week:

We jumped again on social media this week and have been welcomed by the “sovereign of social media’s” return to the platform he stepped away from in June.

It seems Homa hoped his time away would assist flip his recreation round however that wasn’t the case together with his greatest end a tie for 43^rd at The Open. We’re undecided the poisonous pool of social media is the reply to the six-time Tour winner’s woes however no less than the remainder of us will likely be entertained.

Missed Minimize

One thing new. New-ish venues, like this week’s playoff cease south of Denver, intensify fan curiosity and produce elite golf to a market that’s been with out for practically 20 years.

It additionally focuses a highlight on what’s lacking from the postseason — selection. Whereas East Lake and final week’s host, TPC Southwind, have confirmed to be strong venues with loads of company and fan help, there’s no ignoring the very fact the Tour has no common stops in New York Metropolis, Boston or Chicago (three of the highest 7 media markets in the US, in line with the 2023-24 Nielsen rankings).

The BMW Championship makes common stops within the Chicago market and in 2027 the event is scheduled to be performed at Liberty Nationwide in New Jersey, however the lack of selection is noteworthy for a circuit that’s grow to be more and more centered on a star-driven product.

Atlanta and Memphis are a part of the Tour’s material, however because the sports activities world discovered throughout final month’s Olympics in Paris, incorporating an iconic location right into a high-level competitors makes for a extra compelling product.