Major champion hits out at PGA Tour over recent changes
Published:
Jason Day has described the new-look PGA Tour built in the wake of the threat of LIV Golf as “unfortunate”
Jason Day doesn’t tend to speak up on state of the game matters. Indeed, the Australian is quite the opposite.
“I just typically just keep my head down, I keep my mouth shut and try and play good golf,” Day told reporters at Torrey Pines ahead of the Farmers Insurance Open – a tournament he won twice during a four-year purple patch in which he won 11 of his 13 PGA Tour titles, including his sole major at the 2015 PGA Championship.
“I am trying to tread lightly because I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’ve got a hard enough time trying to keep the ball down the middle of the fairway.”
Day, however, in the minutes preceding those claims, had spoken quite openly about how he sees the top level of the sport right now.
And he is not on board with how the PGA Tour reacted to the threat of losing its biggest stars to LIV Golf – particularly the introduction of the elevated purse, limited field Signature Events, which he believes have created a two-tier tour.
“There are two tours within a tour now if you could understand that,” he explained.
“You have the top guys playing the Signature Events, and you have the other side of it too.
“I think that just happened purely because of the way LIV came about. And it’s unfortunate but ultimately that’s what we’re dealing with now.”
With rumours swirling that the Genesis Invitational – a Signature Event – will now be held at Torrey Pines after the PGA Tour confirmed it will move from Riviera, a number of big names have opted to skip the Farmers Insurance Open this year, meaning just six of the world’s top 25 are in the field in San Diego.
“It is tough, the two tours is difficult,” the former World No.1 explained.
“Ultimately, the only way you’re going to get the best players in the world is shrink the schedule down dramatically.
“Essentially that’s kind of what they’re doing now within the tour, is that you have the Signature Events and you have the major championships and then you have those bigger events that offer three-year exemptions instead of the typical two-year exemptions.”
As Day says, though, he would prefer to keep his head down and concentrate on getting back to his best having won just once since 2018.
“I would love to give you the correct answer but I just don’t know where they’re even taking it,” he added.
About the author
Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time. He joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division.
He is a keen golfer who claims to play off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses. His three favorites are Royal North Devon, the Old Course at St Andrews, and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall, where he first fell in love with the game.
-
Jason Day says the PGA Tour has created "two tours"
