Two-time major champion Curtis Strange and veteran Peter Jacobsen have voiced strong opposition to recent PGA Tour modifications aimed at countering LIV Golf's influence. In comments to Golfweek, they argued that the changes undermine the tour's traditions and community benefits. Their critiques highlight concerns over player influence and event reductions.
The PGA Tour is undergoing significant changes to elevate its profile and address competition from LIV Golf, which launched in 2022. New CEO Brian Rolapp and the Future Competitions Committee, led by Tiger Woods, plan to reduce the number of tournaments, shorten the season to six months, and limit PGA Tour cards awarded annually. These moves have support from Woods but less from Rory McIlroy.
Curtis Strange, a World Golf Hall of Famer with 17 PGA Tour wins, including back-to-back U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989, and former U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2002, now works as a TV analyst for Fox after stints with ESPN and ABC. He opposes the elimination of cuts in many Signature Events, viewing it as detrimental to longstanding regular tour events. "You can have an elevated event," Strange told Golfweek reporter Adam Schupak, "But a cut, it’s part of the fabric of the Tour. It’s making longstanding events into a feeder tour to the other Signature Events."
Strange also contrasted golf with football, targeting Rolapp's NFL background: "Golf is a different animal than football. It’s not a six-month audience." He blamed excessive player influence for the shifts, stating, "The problem is you have the players running the asylum. Why do you think (former PGA Tour board member) Jimmy Dunne left? He said, ‘shoot, why am I wasting my time anymore?'" This increased player role stems from post-LIV adjustments.
Peter Jacobsen, a seven-time PGA Tour winner turned TV analyst, called the remake a "huge gamble." "It’s a huge gamble trying to remake the PGA Tour. I’ve read a lot of the players saying, ‘Well, we all know the PGA Tour has to change,’ and I ask the question, Why? It was working really well before," he said. He suggested supporters of fewer, star-filled events join LIV: "If the players wanted to have tournaments where the good players play more often together, they have that at LIV. Go join LIV."
Jacobsen expressed alarm over cutting events, emphasizing their value to communities and charities: "I get scared when I hear people saying cutting events. When you look at the individual communities, those events are so important to that community and the charity money raised is important to those golf fans. I always thought the PGA Tour should expand their reach rather than contract their reach. Count me as someone who thinks we should be growing the Tour and having more events rather than contracting."
Rolapp is scheduled to discuss the tour's future at a press conference Wednesday morning at PGA Tour headquarters before the Players Championship.
