The PGA Tour is considering reducing the field size for The Players Championship from 144 players to 120 in an effort to improve the pace of play during tournaments. The proposal, which will be voted on by the Policy Board on Nov. 18, also includes changes to the Tour’s pace of play policy.
The Tour has been facing challenges with completing tournaments on time, particularly on Fridays when there are suspensions due to darkness. By reducing the field size, the hope is that events will run more smoothly and be completed on schedule.
The proposed changes to the pace of play policy include fines for “Excessive Average Stroke Time.” Players who have an average stroke time of 12 seconds or more over the field average will receive warnings and fines for multiple violations.
The field size reduction would only apply to Tour events before and after Daylight Savings Time. The Tour is looking to have full fields of 120 players until after the Masters in April, and then increasing the size to 132 players.
Last year, The Players Championship was unable to complete the first and second rounds on time at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course due to darkness. The Tour hopes that by reducing the field size, they can avoid similar issues in the future.
The changes to the pace of play policy aim to encourage players to maintain a reasonable pace on the course. With fines for excessive average stroke times, the Tour is looking to ensure that tournaments are completed within the expected timeframe.
The Policy Board will vote on these proposals at the Sea Island Club, where the RSM Classic will be played later in the week. If approved, these changes could have a significant impact on how Tour events are conducted and how players are held accountable for their pace of play.
Ultimately, the PGA Tour is looking to streamline the tournament process and ensure that events are completed in a timely manner. By proposing these changes to field sizes and pace of play policies, the Tour aims to enhance the overall experience for players and fans alike.
