Scottie Scheffler says PGA Tour's smaller fields were not a 'huge fan favourite'

Scottie Scheffler has welcomed the PGA Tour's sweeping new competitive structure, declaring the circuit is "moving in the right direction" after CEO Brian Rolapp unveiled a radical two-tier system that will begin in 2028.

The world number one gave his first public reaction to the changes ahead of this week's Travelers Championship, where he starts a red-hot favourite to land a second title at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced its most significant overhaul in decades, confirming a new promotion-and-relegation model that will split elite men's professional golf into two circuits: the PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series.

The reforms, developed by the Tour's Future Competitions Committee and backed by Tiger Woods, are designed to reward performance, strengthen competition and create a clearer pathway for players and fans alike.

Watch what Woods had to say here

Among the headline changes being made is the return to larger 120-player fields and traditional cuts, marking a shift away from the limited-field 72-man Signature Event format introduced in recent seasons.

Scheffler, 30, believes that particular move will prove popular with fans.

"I think we're moving in the right direction for sure," Scheffler told reporters on Wednesday.

"I think what people want is to get the best players playing together more often. 

"I'm not sure if the smaller fields were a huge fan favourite, so getting fields back to 120-man fields and getting a cut back, I think it's a good change."

The four-time major champion also believes the simplified structure will make the PGA Tour easier for fans to follow throughout the season.

"The more we can simplify it for people, the better," he said. 

"You're going to see the same 120 guys most of the time at the same tournaments throughout the season. I think it's easier for our fans to follow and hopefully it makes them more interested."

Scheffler expects the standard of competition to increase significantly under the new model, particularly in the Championship Series, where the strongest players will compete against each other more regularly.

"I think the competition will get better," he added. 

"When you look at larger fields, it will be much harder to win tournaments.

"When you win one of those tournaments, it will have some serious significance because you'll have beaten pretty much all of the best players in the world to do it."

The new structure, approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board on Monday and formally unveiled by CEO Brian Rolapp on Tuesday, will also introduce match play to the season-ending Tour Championship.

Scheffler's positivity over the changes was echoed by Rory McIlroy, with both players backing the PGA Tour's efforts to create a more merit-based and fan-friendly product.

That is despite McIlroy's controversial remarks at the U.S. Open last week. 

For now, however, Scheffler's focus remains on the Travelers Championship, the eighth and final Signature Event of the 2026 season. 

The world number one arrives in Connecticut seeking his second victory of the season and the 21st PGA Tour title of his career.

McIlroy is not in the field, with the world number two opting to skip a third Signature Event this season.