Several changes have already taken effect this season under the PGA Tour’s new structure.

Among them, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has returned to the Tour, and 2018  masters winner Patrick Reed is also working his way back after leaving LIV Golf. 

Now, the PGA Tour is also making internal changes, which Tiger Woods addressed on Tuesday during the pre-press conference of the Genesis Invitational.

It is becoming more performance-based, with fewer automatic spots, more returning players, and opportunities for younger golfers to enter and compete.

The 15-time major winner acknowledged Koepka, Reed, Scheffler, and McIlroy for their presence and achievements, he said, “Having Brooks come back, having Patrick Reed play as well as he is and committed to coming back to the Tour, having Scottie as dominant as he has been, and to have Rory complete the Career Grand Slam, you have a lot of top players,” 

At the same time, Tiger Woods also pointed to the rise of younger players within the Tour. The 50-year-old explained that the plan focuses on restructuring eligibility and reducing Tour cards to increase competition across the field.

These changes stem from the concept introduced by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp at the August 2025 Tour Championship press conference, where he presented “scarcity” as one of three pillars, along with parity and simplicity, to guide the Tour’s future direction.

The approach centered on a “less is more” model to increase the importance of each event.

Explaining the concept, Woods said they are working to bring more top players together and make the field harder to access by reducing the number of cards, which would make it more competitive for players to remain on the Tour.

Tiger Woods outlines plan to create pathways for younger players to reach the PGA TOUR

Going further, the five-time Masters winner explained that the focus remains on creating pathways for the next generation to enter and compete at the highest level, stating:

“We're trying to create opportunities for that turnover coming from the PGA TOUR-U, or it's the Korn Ferry, and trying to get more youth out here because eventually they're going to take over the game."

PGA Tour University and the Korn Ferry Tour both provide routes to the Tour, but they apply at different stages. 

PGA Tour University ranks NCAA Division I college seniors based on their performance and helps them move into professional golf. 

In comparison, the Korn Ferry Tour is a professional season where players compete to earn PGA TOUR membership.

Through this system, the top PGA Tour University player earns direct Tour access, while others receive Korn Ferry Tour or PGA TOUR Americas status. 

From there, Korn Ferry Tour players compete during the season, and the top 20 in the standings earn Tour cards for the next season.

What do you think of the new changes? Comment down your views!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Joyita Das