Padraig Harrington, who’s in Phoenix this week for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, appeared on Golf Channel’s Golf Immediately on Wednesday to debate present happenings in skilled golf.
One pertinent subject is the PGA Tour’s proposed modifications for the 2026 season, which might diminish discipline sizes at virtually each occasion, eradicate practically all Monday qualifiers, and decrease the variety of PGA Tour members from 125 to 100 in a given season.
So, when Golf Channel’s Eamon Lynch requested Harrington about this improvement, the Irishman shook his head in disgust and instantly voiced his displeasure with the measure.
“Horrible. Simply horrible,” Harrington mentioned.
“It truly is. I can’t take into consideration how unhealthy it’s. On the finish of the day, the folks on the within are voting to maintain the factor tighter and extra closed… The tour was operating simply tremendous. I do know there’s just a little little bit of strain to complete on time when fields go to 156 at sure instances of the season or 144, however gamers will take care of it. They’ll deal with that. They put together for that. They know in the beginning of the yr [that they] would possibly miss out on a couple of event [rounds] due to gentle.”
When the PGA Tour despatched this memo to its membership final week, it cited the sluggish tempo of play—a problem that has plagued the tour for years—as the explanation for these modifications. Dozens of rounds end after darkish yearly, main many gamers to complete their last few holes early the next morning. That results in difficult and tiresome conditions, which appear to occur as a rule.
Harrington understands that and has skilled it firsthand. Nonetheless, he doesn’t perceive why the PGA Tour proposed these modifications. He feels for the underdog—the journeyman who has fought tooth and nail to have an opportunity at reaching his dream—a narrative that a whole lot of professionals like Harrington can resonate with.
“Gradual play is like driving in rush hour visitors. It’s simply too many individuals on the golf course, and the tee instances are too tight, so sure, it is a manner of fixing one of many huge points in golf, the tempo of play, however you need to give everyone the chance,” Harrington mentioned whereas releasing an enormous, disappointing sigh.
“If this was just like the [English Premier League], or the [English] Championship [League], and there was a very, actually good second tour, possibly the European Tour may be that. Possibly it really works out. However to me, it positively seems to be just like the folks on the within are maintaining it tighter.”
The Irishman additionally is aware of the significance of Monday qualifiers, as these mini 18-hole tournaments are held virtually each Monday earlier than a PGA Tour occasion. Those that acquire entry into these qualifiers are both younger professionals seeking to make it, these with out standing, or people who rank beneath a sure threshold within the standings. Consider these gamers exterior the FedEx Cup Prime 150, as an example.
“Not having a Monday qualifier, c’mon, that’s one of the crucial thrilling issues on the tour,” Harrington added.
“The cut-line can be one of the crucial thrilling issues on the tour. It’s a horrible factor… reducing your exemption to 100 gamers. However I do know no-cut fields swimsuit the sponsors. They need the main names assured to be there on the weekend.”
However the PGA Tour appears to need its big-name gamers, too, a lot to Harrington’s dismay. His evaluation of the scenario aligns with former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who known as the proposal “full crap” on Sirius XM earlier within the week. Glover went 10 years with no PGA Tour victory, so he is aware of all too properly about what it feels prefer to be on the skin.
Harrington does, too. He additionally believes that the tour had no cause to make any modifications.
“I’ve to say tightening up fields is sweet for the TV and dependability, however I assumed the system wasn’t damaged,” Harrington mentioned.
“Truthfully, I actually don’t suppose the system was damaged. Possibly if I have been within the high 60, I might be saying, ‘Hey, that is nice,’ however if you’re on the skin, it appears that evidently this isn’t an excellent transfer.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
