A new PGA Tour proposal “would require players” in the previous year’s top 125 in the FedExCup to play in one event they have not played in the previous five seasons, according to Golf Channel's George Savaricas. Players with five years or less on Tour or any player entering 25 events would be exempt from this requirement. The rule would go into effect for the ’16-17 season and the penalty for failing to meet the requirement could result in loss of retirement income for that season. The PGA Tour Policy Board "preliminarily passed the rule last month.” Golf Channel's John Feinstein said the new rules are an “attempt to help out sponsors in some of the non-glamour events to strengthen their fields." He said, "It’s been an issue out here on Tour for years because sponsors don’t think they get enough bang for their buck in many cities." The Tour in the past has asked players "to play in every event within a five-year period" and has toyed with a "designated tournament idea where they were going to designate five tournaments and say players in the top 30 had to play in at least one of them." Feinstein: "This is milder, but it’s still going to be met with a lot of resistance, particularly from top players who don’t want to be told where to play by the Tour and who feel they already do enough for the Tour without having to add a week somewhere where they don’t really want to play” ("Golf Central," Golf Channel, 8/28).
TO CATCH A CONTRACTOR: In California, Larry Bohannan noted golfers are independent contractors who can "set their own schedules," and most "marquee players seldom wander away" from their set schedule. Top players "can count the four majors, World Golf Championship, The Players Championship and the four FedEx Cup playoffs as automatic starts." That comes to 13 events, and a golfer "needs to play just 15 for full membership on the tour" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 8/29). Golf Channel’s David Duval said this proposal is “not anything like the proposals they’ve had over the past number of years." Among players, though, the thinking is “you’re a member of the Tour, you’re not an employee of the Tour." Duval: "That’s where the kind of griping can come in. If I’m only an independent contractor, how can you tell me what I have to do?" However, Golf Channel's Jim Gallagher Jr. said of the Wyndham Championship, "Look at the effect Tiger had on a tournament last week. In my opinion, they’ve been trying to do this for 30 years. You’re asking them to play one event. You are not bigger than the game, guys, and you’ve got to remember that. There are sponsors putting up a lot of money and never really getting the opportunity to see these guys play.” He said the proposal is “not that big a deal, and I hope they pass it because it’s very important” for the sponsors. Gallagher: "This only helps your product” (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 8/28).
MISSING IN ACTION: The PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs began with 125 players prior to The Barclays this weekend, though some golfers who would have normally qualified were excluded because they are not members of the Tour, and Golf Channel's Geoff Shackelford said that is a "problem on a number of levels." He said the idea that Shane Lowry and Patrick Rodgers "are qualifying for these playoffs but not in them because they’re not members of the PGA Tour, I think, is a huge, huge mistake." Shackelford: "I understand the Tour wants to protect its members, and it makes perfect sense on paper. But if you want to call these the playoffs, we have got to have some wild cards" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 8/31).
CHAMPIONS TOUR CHANGES: GOLFWEEK's Alex Miceli cited sources as saying that the PGA Tour this week will introduce a "three-event Champions Tour playoff system." The series, which would start in '16, would begin with an event near Savannah, Ga., with the second event being held in Richmond. The 54-person tournament would be title sponsored by Dominion Resources. A "reduced number will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup finals, similar to the four-tournament progression" with the FedExCup series (GOLFWEEK.com, 8/28).
