The PGA Tour Policy Board has "approved a regulation that will require players to add new events to their schedules" beginning with the '16-17 season, according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFCHANNEL.com. An email sent to players Tuesday noted the Tour's new “strength of field regulation” will mandate players add at least one tournament they had not participated in during the previous four seasons. Any player who "participated in 25 or more official money events during the current or previous season is exempt from the requirement." Majors and some limited-field tournaments "will not be included under the new policy" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 12/1). ESPN.com's Bob Harig reported various veteran players "will be exempt from the requirement based on their age or status." Lifetime PGA Tour members, who have a "minimum of 20 victories, will also not have to comply with the new rule." PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said, "We think it changes the culture a little bit, an expectation that you move your schedule around a little bit. ... It really helps in the markets we play to have some of these players be there at some point. We like that part about it" (ESPN.com, 12/2). Golf Channel's Todd Lewis said a tournament can be elevated "when a great player shows up at an event that he's never played at." Lewis cited Tiger Woods' first appearance at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro this past August and noted tournament officials "printed 49,000 extra tickets" and TV ratings for the third round had the "same rating that they had at the PGA Championship the week before, when Jason Day and Jordan Spieth were slugging it out." The LPGA has a similar rule, and Golf Channel's Paige Mackenzie said, "It sets the tone, I think more than anything, that every sponsor is important. We want big names at every single field at least once every four years so that your local audience can enjoy it" ("Morning Drive" Golf Channel, 12/2).
PLAYERS SEEM OK WITH IDEA: Golfer Justin Rose noted he did not have a problem with adding a new tournament, saying, "It’s actually fun to mix up your schedule a little bit, and add the odd tournament here and there, so I think it’s definitely a doable scenario.” Golfer Adam Scott said, “I don’t think they are asking a lot by adding one new event every four years. I think that’s fair enough.” Golfer Billy Horschel: “It’s a good thing for the fact that the sponsors now are spending a lot of money on a regular basis to put on great events and they want good fields, and they want the top players to come. ... We sort of owe it to these sponsors to at least get to the event at least once every four or five years" ("Golf Central," Golf Channel, 12/2).
FACING REALITY: Woods earlier this week sounded unsure about when he would return to playing after his most recent back surgery, but USA TODAY's Steve DiMeglio noted Finchem "doesn’t fear a day without Woods" on Tour. Woods has "taken the Tour to new levels, but the emergence of stars under the age of 30, such as Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, has "built a sustainable foundation for the Tour." Finchem: “With Tiger being out, it does open the window to create new stars. When Tiger’s actively playing and winning, it's very difficult to do that so we need to take advantage of that. Certainly if you look at this year, the fans really, look at our numbers across the board, really responded to these guys playing at that level. So if that continues we're going to be in good shape” (USATODAY.com, 12/2).
