SOUTHAMPTON, NY – A Track Two event, Rory McIlroy says, is “a glorified Korn Ferry event.”
And the PGA Tour setup, before LIV Golf, was “actually pretty good,” he said.
Speaking on Tuesday at a pre-US Open press conference in Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, six-time major winner said he had concerns about the tournament’s proposed schedule changes, which could come into effect in 2028. As first reported by Sports Business Journal Josh Carpenterthe moves could see the creation of a two-track system – Track One would have 23 events set up, including majors and play-offs, with fields of over 120 players, while Track Two would have 20 events and fields of 140 players.
A question that followed is which tournaments would become Track One events that would attract players and the attention of tournament players; and which tournaments would be considered Track Two. In his press conference, McIlroy cited Canadian Openwhich was played last week and where he is a two-time winner.
“I think like in an event – I think, just recently, an event like last week, the Canadian Open, potentially going to one of these Track Two – Track Two is a glorified Korn Ferry event,” McIlroy said. “That’s what track two is going to be. So I don’t think the Canadian Open should be one of those.
“Yeah, I just think there’s going to be some events that could lose their stature if a sponsor doesn’t raise $30 million. So that’s the tough thing.”
Continuing his response, McIlroy said he believed the tournament format had been in place prior to the start of LIV Golf in 2022. After the circuit began playing with big bags and no cuts, the PGA Tour was set up similarly. However, LIV’s future is now in question following news that its main backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, will no longer support it.
“Yeah, it’s funny. I think as they’ve done all this work, you start to realize that the way the tournament was before LIV came along was actually pretty good,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “It was a pretty good setup and everything worked pretty well.
“LIV created this false economy where we had to add prize money and we had to cut fields and try to support the top players and all that stuff, which I think had to happen because that was the only way to keep talent at the time, but now that LIV seems like it’s less of a threat, I think, like I said, the old ways of the PGA Tour weren’t actually that bad.”
Notably, LIV’s first event came in the same week as the 2022 Canadian Open. Last week, Canadian pros Nick Taylor and Corey Conners also said they were worried about their country tour stop.
“I’m really passionate about this event,” Conners said. “I really care about this event. The Open factor, you know, it’s always been good to have 21 Canadians, it gives some young Canadian players an opportunity to play in such an elite event. So I definitely think there will be some changes. Nothing is completely set, but I’m optimistic that the Canadian Open will continue to thrive and hopefully continue to thrive and hopefully continue to thrive and continue to be a big part of the GA. trying to chasing the trophy.”
Meanwhile, Taylor was more open about what could happen.
“That would certainly be bad,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of guys that are in the PAC, a lot of people with the tour, I think the goal in mind is to have the best product possible. That’s the scenario that I’ve asked and asked, and what happens in that scenario or in that case. I guess time will tell. I wouldn’t like that, of course. I know there could be a lot of their guys that could have a lot of local events. So I think we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but I think it will surely lose the open name, because no one can earn their way into it or play in it.
Next week at the Travelers Championship, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp is expected to announce more schedule details.
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