Golf World Monday provided more details on the PGA Tour’s proposed plan to revamp the end of the season and make the Nationwide Tour the only place to attain PGA Tour cards. Here’s the details, as laid out nicely by my friend Ryan Ballengee from NBCSports.com:
- 3 tournaments to replace the Fall Series
- Fields consist of top 50 on Nationwide Tour money list (or so) and Nos. 126-200 (or so) on the PGA Tour money list
- A points system modeled after the FedExCup will determine who wins some 50 cards (or so)
- Q-school will now only offer cards for the Nationwide Tour in the next season
Dave Shedloski adds that none of this would happen until 2013, when a new umbrella sponsor will take over for Nationwide.
All in all I’m OK with this plan except for two main issues:
1) One of the complaints of rank-and-file PGA Tour members is not having enough playing opportunities. If this REPLACES the Fall Series, I hope the PGA Tour still gives these guys ample playing attempts during the season.
2) I do agree with the Tour that most times going through the Nationwide Tour is the best way to get you ready for the PGA Tour. But there are cases — Rickie Fowler is a great recent one — where going straight from college to the pros IS the right move, and if this is enacted, it might keep a possible star like him away from the PGA Tour for a year, at a time when the Tour will gladly take all the stars it can get.
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