The PGA Tour appears likely to amend its cut policy ahead of next season. But while the proposed change would have a bigger impact on how many players make it to the weekend, it will also affect how much prize money the winners take home.
RELATED: 13 great perks of being a PGA Tour pro
Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported on Friday that the tour is poised to lower the amount of players making the cut at regular events from the top 70 and ties to the top 65 and ties. As a compromise with tour pros, the unpopular secondary cut will also be eliminated.
But with fewer people making the cut each week, that means more prize money to be distributed to those who do. According to Hoggard, the Player Advisory Council chose to allocate a higher percentage to winners (20 percent instead of the current 18 percent) rather than spread it among a bigger number of golfers.
Hoggard also reported the tour’s policy board approved the new measure and asked the Players Advisory Council to review it. The PAC agreed to support the change after meeting earlier this month during the Wells Fargo Championship.
The secondary cut, which happens after the third round, has existed since 2008 and comes into effect when 78 or more players make the weekend. Players who don’t advance to Sunday still get a check and credit for making the cut.
Final approval for the changes will likely occur at next month’s policy board meeting during the Travelers Championship, according to Hoggard. If the changes are upheld, they would go into effect before the start of the 2019-2010 season this fall.
RELATED: PGA Tour pros discuss how they spent their first tournament check