Report: Several PGA Tour pros skip players meeting after LIV prompt shake-up

Several PGA Tour players decided to skip a members only meeting before The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass after LIV Golf-induced changes were made.

Ben Smith

07 Mar 2023

Report: Several PGA Tour pros skip players meeting after LIV prompt shake-up — Report: Several PGA Tour pros skip players meeting after LIV prompt shake…

Several PGA Tour pros boycotted the members' only meeting that was scheduled before the Players Championship, according to a report.

Per Golf Channel, it is said that several players decided to skip the meeting that was scheduled for 7.30am on 7 March at TPC Sawgrass.

Probably had something to do with it being at 7:30 a.m!
From one player, last night: https://t.co/qi7EbbVrBD pic.twitter.com/XsUFthKKmw
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 7, 2023

The timing is interesting, given it was only last week that the established tour announced bombshell changes to their 2024 schedule.

Those changes will see eight of their designated events reduced to fields of 70-78 players and the absence of a 36-hole cut.

Elsewhere, the PGA Tour will no longer require top players to participate in certain events: the Players, the four majors (if eligible), the three FedEx Cup playoff events and an additional eight 'designated' events.

Per a memo from commissioner Jay Monahan, the tour will now focus on:

"Ensuring [a guaranteed] purse size, elimination of a cut and FedEx Cup points distribution to sufficiently incentivize top performers to participate in the Designated events."

Several leading PGA Tour voices such as Rory McIlroy, Max Homa and Jordan Spieth have defended the changes.

That's hardly surprising, given that McIlroy is director of the tour's Players Advisory Council [PAC]. Homa also serves on the PAC.

McIlroy has acknowledged the changes were a response to the LIV Golf League but insists those jumping to conclusions are acting on limited information.

He said before the Arnold Palmer Invitational that he believed wholeheartedly in the new structure.

McIlroy told the media:

"There's ways to play into it. It's trying to get the top guys versus the hot guys, right? I think that creates a really compelling product. But in a way that you don't have to wait an entire year for your good play to then get the opportunity.

"That opportunity presents itself straight away. You play well for two or three weeks, you're in a designated event. You know then if you keep playing well, you stay in them. So, for example, someone like a Chris Kirk last week that wins Honda, he's set."

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Golf Channel have not reported which players decided to skip the meeting. Per the publication, it is said that several players were upset no meeting was planned before the changes were announced.

We are sure that one of those players who definitely will be there is James Hahn.

Hahn was one of the few voices to publicly criticise the changes.

Next page: Why are the PGA Tour copying LIV Golf?