Rory McIlroy’s ‘cutthroat’ wish granted after admitting golf decision ‘wouldn’t be popular’

The PGA have seemingly listened to recent DP World Tour Championship winner Rory McIlroy and have shaken up their tour – with changes to be implemented in 2026

After Rory McIlroy “unpopularly” called for a more “cutthroat” PGA Tour, the Policy Board has now approved a range of drastic changes.

Speaking after the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Northern Irish world No. 3 McIlroy, instead of suggesting that more players should be included in the 69-strong field, went against the grain, believing that the competition and tour as a whole should be more exclusive.

Now, it seems as though the governing body have listened, as they announced on Monday a plethora of sweeping changes that mirror McIlroy’s demands. Among said changes will be smaller fields, fewer tour cards given out to those who want to compete on the circuit and fewer players fully exempt from losing their cards – all of which should be music to his ears.

Speaking in Bay Hill, McIlroy’s wish was clear as he said: “I’m all for making it [the tour] more cutthroat, more competitive. Probably won’t be very popular for saying this, but I’m all for less players and less Tour cards, and the best of the best.”

The PGA have now approved such changes for the 2026 season, including reducing the number of players who will keep their tour cards with fully exempt status from 125 to 100.

Their statement reads: “The PGA Tour Policy Board today approved competitive changes supported by the Player Advisory Council (PAC) that will deliver a stronger and more competitive and entertaining PGA Tour to fans, players, tournaments and partners.”