Golf legend Jack Nicklaus wants talks with PGA Tour bosses

Jack Nicklaus has revealed he hopes to sit down and have a talk with PGA Tour bosses soon as he isn't in favour of where the circuit is heading. 

The PGA Tour is in the middle of a significant overhaul, with some changes already in effect and the majority planned for the 2027-2028 season. 

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp revealed in March that a two-tier system is under consideration, including plans to double the number of signature events and expand field sizes to at least 120 players, with a 36-hole cut.

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Rolapp said the schedule would likely be split up into 'Track 1' and 'Track 2', with players moving between the tiers based on their performance. 

But Nicklaus, 86, expressed concern during his annual news conference ahead of the Memorial. 

"Well, I don't want to comment on the Tour's schedule because I'm not exactly in favour of what they're doing right now,” he said. 

"I want to sit down with Brian and Jay [Monahan] and have that conversation. I mean, I hate to see tournaments bunched too much together with too many big tournaments too close together. 

"That's a problem, I think. And I think that's going to be a problem for the Tour in the future.

"I think it's harder for your tournaments to stand out. I mean, if you looked at the schedule, we're involved in the Cognizant down in Florida, and, you know, we have Pebble Beach and Los Angeles, Tiger's event, and then Cognizant, and then we had Bay Hill and the Players. I mean, what chance does that tournament have?"

Nicklaus explained that the bunched-up schedule, with several signature events in a condensed space means it's hard for top players be at their best.

"I look at it from the way I was as a player," he said. 

"I could play a couple weeks in a row, maybe three weeks in a row, but I needed some time off to be able to recharge the batteries…

"So to jam it all in in one period of time, and then leave the rest of the year open, I think it's tough. I don't think it's a problem yet, but I think it will be if we don't address it."

What did Brian Rolapp say?

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp outlined a tentative vision for the PGA Tour's future in March ahead of the Players. 

Rolapp said the Tiger Woods-chaired Future Competitions Committee (FCC) was leaning towards a two-tier system, with players switching levels depending on the quality of their performance. 

The former NFL executive pointed to the success of the English Premier League and Championship. 

"You see this work powerfully elsewhere, including in English football," said Rolapp. 

"Applying elements of that approach to the PGA Tour creates real consequence, lifting the competitive standard across the entire platform.

"For our members, the message is pretty simple: play well and you earn the opportunity to compete in our biggest events and for more money."

Under the proposals, the number of signature events would double. 

Field sizes would also increase in the $20m tournaments, Rolapp said. 

This means moving away from small fields and no-cut events. Our best events will have larger fields - ideally, we are targeting something closer to 120-player fields with a cut.

"That consistency matters. It helps fans know who they will see and showcases who they want to see, the most competitive players."

Rolapp also hinted the Tour's end-of-season play-off events could switch to some kind of matchplay format. 

But he stressed that idea was "a work in progress".