PGA Tour proposes further slashing down top field events: Reports

PGA Tour Signature Events are very limited in scope. They feature some of the smallest fields in golf, with many of them not even featuring a cut. This is a major way they differ from standard events, but a new report suggests that the Tour is looking into shrinking the field sizes for some of those events, too.

According to golf reporter Josh Carpenter on X, some of the most prominent tournaments on tour would almost all be shrunk. The changes would not be massive, but there would be a distinctly smaller field size in the future.

Should the proposed changes be agreed to, this will take effect in 2026. The new maximum for an event would be 144 golfers. Pre-daylight savings tournaments would be restricted to 120 players. Between then and the Masters, the rules would allow 132 players in a tournament.

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Proposed field changes for PGA Tour events

Should these changes be approved, nearly all of the non-Signature Event tournaments on the PGA Tour would see a drop in their allowed field size.

Here's how most of them would look:

• Sony Open drops from 144 to 120
• American Express stays the same
• Farmers Insurance Open drops from 156 to 144
• WM Phoenix Open drops from 132 to 120
• Mexico Open drops from 132 to 120
• Cognizant Classic drops from 144 to 120
• Puerto Rico Open drops from 132 to 120
• The Players Championship drops from 144 to 132
• Valspar Championship drops from 144 to 132
• Texas Children's Houston Open drops from 144 to 132
• Valero Texas Open drops from 144 to 132
• Corales Puntacana Championship drops from 132 to 120
• Zurich Classic drops from 160 to 144
• CJ Cup Byron Nelson drops from 156 to 144
• Myrtle Beach Classic drops from 132 to 120
• Charles Schwab Challenge stays the same
• RBC Canadian Open drops from 156 to 144

The RBC Canadian Open PGA Tour event may shrink. (Imagn)

• Rocket Mortgage Classic drops from 156 to 144
• John Deere Classic drops from 156 to 144
• Genesis Scottish Open drops from 156 to 144
• Isco Championship drops from 156 to 144
• Barracuda Championship drops from 156 to 144
• 3M Open drops from 156 to 144
• Wyndham Championship drops from 156 to 144
• Procore Championship stays the same
• Sanderson Farms Championship drops from 132 to 120
• Black Desert Championship drops from 132 to 120
• Shriners Children's Open drops from 132 to 120
• Zozo Championship drops from 78 to 72
• World Wide Technology Championship stays the same
• Butterfield Bermuda Championship stays the same
• RSM Classic drops from 156 to 144

Only a few tournaments avoided the dreaded fate. Some golfers who were on the fringe will not be able to compete in these events, thus impacting their ability to earn points and retain their PGA Tour membership.