McIlroy defends PGA Tour changes but LIV rebels are quick to mock

Rory McIlroy has defended the imminent arrival of limited fields and no cuts in high-profile PGA Tour events, as LIV rebels ridiculed the prospect on social media.

The major criticism of the breakaway LIV tour has surrounded the perceived lack of jeopardy, given set 48-man fields and the failure to implement a cut system. It has now emerged the PGA Tour’s 2024 schedule will include fields between 70 and 80 and the guarantee of players surviving for all 72 holes at designated events.

LIV’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were the most vocal about the PGA Tour’s changes. “Sounds very similar to another product that’s been spoken so badly about by media and commentators,” Poulter said. “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations PGA Tour. Welcome to the future,” said LIV’s official Twitter account. Westwood tweeted: “I’ve spent the last year reading how good full fields and cuts are.”

McIlroy stressed the number of tournaments with no cuts is “to be determined”, but he favours the concept. “We’ve always had no-cut events on this Tour,” he said. “If you think of the four World Golf Championships, the three playoffs events, the CJ Cup, the Zozo. So there’s precedent there. The only reason no-cut events are a big deal is because LIV has come along.

“There’s been no-cut events since I’ve been a member of the Tour and way beyond that as well. Is there going to be a few more of them? Maybe. “It keeps the stars there for four days. You ask Mastercard or whoever it is to pay $20m for a golf event, they want to see the stars at the weekend. They want a guarantee the stars are there.

“At the end of the day we’re selling a product to people. The more clarity they have on that product and knowing what they’re buying is