Padraig Harrington is in Phoenix this week for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Golf Channel's Golf Today Wednesday to discuss recent events in the world of professional golf.
One related topic is the PGA Tour's proposed changes for the 2026 season. It would reduce field sizes for nearly all events, eliminate nearly all Monday qualifying and reduce the number of PGA Tour members for a given season from 125 to 100.
So when Golf Channel's Eamon Lynch asked Harrington about this development, the Irishman shook his head in disgust and quickly expressed his displeasure with the move.
“It's terrible. It's really terrible,” Harrington said.
“It really is. I can't think of how bad it is. After all, the people inside are voting to keep things tighter and more closed…The tour is going on without a hitch. I know there's some pressure to finish in time when the field is 156 or 144 at certain times of the season, but the players deal with it. Process. They are preparing for it. They know at the beginning of the year. [that they] You may not be able to participate in some tournaments [rounds] Because of the light. ”
When the PGA Tour sent the memo to members last week, it cited the slow pace of play, an issue that has plagued the tour for years, as the reason for the change. Each year, dozens of rounds end after dark, leaving many players to finish the last few holes early the next morning. As a result, difficult and troublesome situations often arise.
Harrington understands that and has experienced it firsthand. But he doesn't understand why the PGA Tour proposed these changes. Although he has sympathy for the underdog, the artisans who have fought hard to have a chance to realize their dreams, this story will resonate with hundreds of professionals like Harrington.
“Slow play is like driving in rush-hour traffic. There are too many people on the golf course, tee times are too strict, and, admittedly, this is one of the big problems with golf: slow play. “I want to give everyone that opportunity,'' Harrington said with a big, disappointed sigh.
“If it were like this, [English Premier League],or [English] championship [League]And then we had a really, really great second tour. Maybe the European tour is that. Maybe it will work. But to me it definitely looks like the people inside are in tighter control. ”
The Irish also know the importance of Monday qualifying, as these mini 18-hole tournaments are held almost every Monday before a PGA Tour event. Those who can participate in these qualifiers are either young professionals looking to qualify, those without status, or individuals who fall below a certain threshold in the rankings. For example, consider players who are not in the FedEx Cup top 150.
“Not having Monday qualifying is one of the most exciting things about the tour,” Harrington added.
“The cut line is also one of the most exciting things on tour. It's scary…reducing the number of exempt players to 100. But we know that the no-cut field is good for sponsors. They We want to ensure that our top players are available for the weekend.”
However, Harrington is disappointed, as the PGA Tour also seems to be hoping to land a big-name player. His assessment of the situation is in line with former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who called the proposal “total nonsense” on SiriusXM earlier this week. Glover knows what it feels like to be on the outside, having gone 10 years without a win on the PGA Tour.
So is Harrington. He also believes there was no reason to make any changes to the tour.
“I have to say that field enhancements are good for TV and good for reliability, but I didn't think the system was broken,” Harrington said.
“To be honest, I don't really think the system was broken. Maybe if I was in the top 60 I'd say, 'This is great,' but if I'm on the outside, this is not a good move. It seems not.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
