Golf: Australia’s Lee backs ‘tough’ PGA Tour changes
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Min Woo Lee of Australia during the Arnold Palmer Invitational, at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course, in Florida, on March 2.
PHOTO: AFP
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MELBOURNE – Reduced fields and no cuts at eight designated events in 2024 will be “tough” on players trying to make the grade on the PGA Tour but will ultimately reward good golf, according to Australian Min Woo Lee.
The tour has approved sweeping changes for next season in response to the threat posed by the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, drawing a scathing reaction from lower-ranked players.
In his announcement last week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said: “These smaller, designated event fields will not only deliver substantial, can’t-miss tournaments to our fans at important intervals throughout the season, but they will also enhance the quality of full-field events.”
But James Hahn, a two-time Tour winner and world No. 305, said last week these events were “just another way to funnel more money to the top players in the world”.
Hahn, one of four player directors on the PGA Tour policy board, said he hated the changes. He added: “I’m gonna say exactly what 99.99 per cent of fans said about players leaving for the LIV Tour. If our players just said, ‘We’re doing this for the money,’ I would have a lot more respect for them.
“But how they’re covering up what they’re doing and trying to make it a thing about sponsors and fans and saving opposite-field events. I think that’s all BS.”
Lee, ranked 50th in the world, said he could see both sides of the debate but was adamant it would be good for the game.
“Obviously, if you’re a good golfer and you deserve to be in the top 70 or whatever people get in that tournament, it’s an amazing time,” he said ahead of The Players Championship starting on Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
“And obviously there’s no cut and you can play freely. But, yeah, if you’re outside of that it’s a bit tough... getting those ranking points and not getting the starts of those tournaments.
“It is tough, but I like stuff like that where it’s a goal for me to get that good to get into those tournaments.”
Designated events were announced by the PGA Tour last August to get the best players competing against each other more often.
The move came amid the threat posed by LIV Golf,
Leading players, including world No. 3 Rory McIlroy, have said the changes are necessary for the PGA Tour to be more competitive.
REUTERS
