Golf-Australia’s Lee backs ‘tough’ PGA Tour changes

(Reuters) – Reduced fields and no cuts at designated events will be “tough” Min Woo Lee from Australia says that while players are trying to get on the PGA Tour, they will be rewarded for good golf.

In response to threats posed by LIV Golf, which is Saudi-backed and financed by Saudi Arabians, the Tour approved major changes in 2024. This drew a furious reaction from the lower ranks.

James Hahn is twice winner of Tour. They are ranked at 305th around the globe. U.S. media were informed last week by Hahn. “just another way to funnel more money to the top players in the world.”

Lee was placed 50th globally.

“Obviously, if you’re a good golfer and you deserve to be in

the top 70 or whatever people get in that tournament, it’s

an amazing time,” He told reporters.

“And obviously there’s no cut and you can play freely. But, yeah, if you’re outside of that it’s a bit tough … getting those ranking points and not getting the starts of those tournaments.”

Last August, the PGA Tour declared designated events to allow the best players to compete against one another more often.

LIV Golf threatened the move, offering 54-hole, limited-field events and guaranteed prizes for all golfers.

Rory McIlroy is the world’s number three player and one of the most prominent players has said that the tour needs to change in order to become more competitive.

“It is tough, but I like stuff like that where it’s a goal for me to get that good to get into those tournaments,” Lee spoke ahead of The Players Championship, which begins Thursday at TPC Sawgrass, Florida.

“So I agree with it because, I mean, good golf, you got to

play good golf to play in the best tournaments.

“It’s what it is. It’s not what I thought the players were really looking for.

Reporting by Ian Ransom, Melbourne. Editing by Shri Navaratnam