PGA Tour reduces player fields, supports by Malnati

Peter Malnati, a PGA Tour player and director, discussed recent decisions to reduce the number of players in tournaments. These changes will impact his career, but he believes they are good for the tour overall. Malnati is currently playing in the Valspar Championship and is defending his title. He admitted that the cuts to the player field and membership affect him personally. Last year, he only finished in the top 100 of the FedEx Cup twice. This makes the new rules a concern for him. With the new changes, only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup will earn a spot for the next season starting in 2026. This is down from the previous limit of 125. The current tournament field will also shrink, from 156 players to 144, while The Players Championship will drop from 144 to 120 players. These changes are aimed at improving the pace of play and reducing game delays. Malnati has a two-year exemption to keep his Tour card after winning the Valspar Championship in 2024. After that, he will need to qualify again, mainly through his performance in the FedEx Cup.