Veteran pro Kevin Streelman hints at PGA Tour introducing relegation system in possible overhaul

After the PGA Tour announced some minor changes for next season’s signature events, veteran pro Kevin Streelman has come out to reveal that the circuit might undergo bigger changes by 2026. According to the 45-year-old, the traditional circuit’s 16-member Player Advisory Council has already initiated discussions on changes including reduced fields and a relegation system.

Streelman claims that the PGA Tour PAC ‘talked and spitballed’ ideas like promotions, fewer exempt players and others during its recent meeting in Fort Worth during the Charles Schwab Challenge. As per the player, the moves are aimed at bringing “some consistency and true competitiveness to the top players in the world.”

He further dubbed the relegation and promotion system, first introduced by LIV Golf, as one among the many “cool ideas.”

Kevin Streelman told Golfweek:

“For the first time in a while, I was excited after our last PAC meeting (in Fort Worth). We started talking and spitballing ideas about what things could look like. There were some ideas that seemed very good and would bring some consistency and true competitiveness to the top players in the world and still give a soft landing and a hopeful resurgence and opportunity if you fall off.

There’s this super tour up here that everyone wants to be on, the big tournaments. But then you still want to be able to play and support your family and some hope of getting back. There were some cool ideas of relegation and promotion going both ways.”

It is pertinent to note that the PGA Tour has not officially made a comment on the possible overhaul. As per the circuit, “the PAC and player directors are actively involved in all facets regarding the future of the PGA Tour.” More updates on the proposed changes are expected in the coming months.

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PGA Tour pro wants to decrease exemptions

PGA Tour’s Lanto Griffin is among the golfers who are happy with the possible changes suggested by the PAC. According to Golfweek, the 36-year-old player supports reducing tournament sizes to 120 players, regardless of being a signature event or not. Several events on the circuit have field sizes going up to 156.

To decrease events’ average field sizes, the circuit board will have to limit the players qualifying via exemptions.

Lanto Griffin said, as quoted by Golfweek:

“I think it’d be gradual, so that’s 125 to 120, 120 to 115 to slowly push lower and have less Q-School and Korn Ferry graduates.”

The experienced golfer claimed that decreased exemptions would give more access to players in Q-School and Korn Ferry Tour graduates. Several players have cried about being at a disadvantage as players get in via sponsor and other exemptions without qualifying.