Michael Kim opens up about how PGA Tour policy change addresses major flaw
Brian Rolapp has already made a clear mark on the PGA Tour, with significant changes coming in under his leadership.
When he took over in 2025, Rolapp was open about not sticking to tradition. That’s become clearer over time.
According to Harris English, the 2027 season will start after the Super Bowl and have a shorter West Coast Swing. This means several historic courses won’t be part of the tour schedule anymore.
He also didn’t hesitate to bring Brooks Koepka back into the fold after his stint with LIV Golf, showing again that he’s ready to make bold calls when needed.
The 2026 season is now underway, and Michael Kim believes one of this year’s changes is helping fix a longstanding problem in golf.
PGA Tour pace of play sees improvement with 2026 changes
Fans have long complained about the slow pace of play on the PGA Tour, a problem that even the rule changes in 2019 didn’t fully solve. The issue has lingered for years, despite various attempts to address it.
This year, however, the PGA Tour introduced a new rule that Michael Kim believes is already making a noticeable difference. The field size for regular one-course events has been cut from 156 to 144 players, starting with this week’s Sony Open.
“This might be the first time (at least while I’ve been on tour) that we finished an entire Thursday/Friday round on schedule,” Kim wrote. “Some players were really skeptical about the field reductions but it’s made a difference here, which I’m surprised at.”
The adjustments seem to be paying off early on. While it’s just one round into the season, there are positive signs and momentum behind the changes heading into this week! There’s plenty of optimism around!
PGA Tour’s field size reduction raises concerns among players and fans
While the PGA Tour has made some progress in improving pace of play, its recent rule changes haven’t come without criticism. The move to cut down field sizes has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it disadvantages players further down the rankings.
The total number of fully exempt tour cards is now just 100, down from 125. And the Korn Ferry Tour’s allocation has dropped from 30 to 20. It’s part of a broader shift that seems to favour those already established at the top, while making life harder for those still trying to break through.
This ties into how Brooks Koepka returned after his stint with LIV Golf. The PGA Tour reached a deal to bring him back but extended similar offers only to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith – not everyone who had moved over.
It’s clear that Rolapp values star power and sees it as key to the tour’s future. While that approach may boost TV ratings and viewer interest, it does little for those lesser-known players hoping for their shot at the big stage.
And now with fewer spots available each week because of smaller fields, opportunities are even more limited. So while Kim believes these changes have helped with pace of play, there’s still plenty of debate over what it means for everyone else trying to make their way onto the tour.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
