’20 Guys That Get Relegated’: Wyndham Clark Gives Rory McIlroy’s ‘Cutthroat’ PGA Tour Plans His Stamp of Approval

After the Friday round at Bay Hill GC, Rory McIlroy opined that the PGA Tour should have a cutthroat criterion to qualify for events or the season cards. The Northern Irishman called for a Tour where there are “less players and less Tour cards,” and only “the best of the best” remain. Now, as the Saturday round has concluded, world number seven has come out in support of McIlroy’s statements.

Wyndham Clark, who is solo third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after three rounds, claimed that the PGA Tour will be “amazing” if there will be fewer guys on it and sort of echoed similar thoughts as what the 4-time major champion has said.

Wyndham Clark wants a smaller field for the PGA Tour events

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is the fourth signature event on the PGA Tour. And as the format follows, all the elevated events will have a limited field. The field allows only the top players to qualify for the events and aid in having one of the strongest fields. Having said that, the PGA Tour pros are now expressing the need to have limited field events more often.

Yesterday it was Rory McIlroy and now Wyndham Clark has spoken in favor of the idea. At the post-match presser, Clark said, “I think it would be amazing if our TOUR was a hundred guys.” Additionally, every year, “we have 20 guys that get relegated every time, every year, doesn’t matter who you are,” said the 2023 U.S. Open winner.

The 30-year-old believed that fewer players on the course would be exciting because the relegation would create intrigue among the viewers. Clark said that by the end of the year, people will wonder, “Who is going to win the FedExCup, and then you’re looking at who is not going to be here next year.” That’s why, “I’m probably with Rory on that,” said he.

Although Clark couldn’t say the exact number of players playing the Tour, he said, “I think it’s just nice to elevate the product and make it to where the best players are playing on TV more often and against each other” Having only a few players on the PGA Tour may dignify the Tour, but doesn’t the plan sound a bit similar to what was introduced in 2022?

Is the LIV Golf format growing among PGA Tour pros? 

The recent confessions by Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark hint that the pros on the PGA Tour support having a limited field throughout the season rather than only being an inclusion at the signature events. But having a small field and letting only the best play sounds exactly how LIV Golf has set itself. Only 54 pros play each event and by the end of the season, two or three get relegated to make space for better talent. Last year four golfers lost their spots in the PIF-funded league including Brooks Koepka’s brother Chase Koepka along with James Piot, Sihwan Kim, and Jed Morgan.

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It seems regardless of how harsh the Tour pro’s initial response was to the breakaway league, the format in itself is something they may desire in the future. With the change of stance in the PGA Tour players, the LIV Golf stands with a better chance of attracting more talent to its league and the PGA Tour may be under threat to lose the best of its roster.

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