Padraig Harrington, who’s in Phoenix this week for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, appeared on Golf Channel’s Golf Right this moment on Wednesday to debate present happenings in skilled golf.
One pertinent matter is the PGA Tour’s proposed modifications for the 2026 season, which might diminish discipline sizes at nearly each occasion, eradicate almost 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 growth, the Irishman shook his head in disgust and instantly voiced his displeasure with the measure.
“Horrible. Simply horrible,” Harrington stated.
“It truly is. I can’t take into consideration how dangerous 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 superb. I do know there’s somewhat little bit of strain to complete on time when fields go to 156 at sure occasions of the season or 144, however gamers will take care of it. They’ll deal with that. They put together for that. They know initially of the 12 months [that they] would possibly miss out on a couple of match [rounds] due to gentle.”
When the PGA Tour despatched this memo to its membership final week, it cited the gradual tempo of play—a difficulty that has plagued the tour for years—as the rationale for these modifications. Dozens of rounds end after darkish yearly, main many gamers to complete their ultimate 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. Nevertheless, 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 attaining his dream—a narrative that a whole lot of professionals like Harrington can resonate with.
“Sluggish play is like driving in rush hour visitors. It’s simply too many individuals on the golf course, and the tee occasions 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 stated whereas releasing an enormous, disappointing sigh.
“If this was just like the [English Premier League], or the [English] Championship [League], and there was a extremely, actually good second tour, possibly the European Tour will be that. Possibly it really works out. However to me, it positively appears to be like just like the folks on the within are preserving it tighter.”
The Irishman additionally is aware of the significance of Monday qualifiers, as these mini 18-hole tournaments are held nearly each Monday earlier than a PGA Tour occasion. Those that achieve entry into these qualifiers are both younger professionals seeking to make it, these with out standing, or people who rank under a sure threshold within the standings. Consider these gamers exterior the FedEx Cup High 150, as an illustration.
“Not having a Monday qualifier, c’mon, that’s one of the thrilling issues on the tour,” Harrington added.
“The cut-line can also be one of the thrilling issues on the tour. It’s a horrible factor… reducing your exemption to 100 gamers. However I do know no-cut fields go well with 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 state of affairs 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 out a PGA Tour victory, so he is aware of all too effectively about what it feels wish to be on the skin.
Harrington does, too. He additionally believes that the tour had no purpose to make any modifications.
“I’ve to say tightening up fields is nice for the TV and dependability, however I assumed the system wasn’t damaged,” Harrington stated.
“Truthfully, I actually don’t assume the system was damaged. Possibly if I had been within the prime 60, I’d be saying, ‘Hey, that is nice,’ however if you’re on the skin, evidently this isn’t a very good transfer.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
