Rory McIlroy has defended the PGA Tour's decision to introduce a number of no-cut events in 2024.
The tour has ratified a number of changes that would see reduced fields made up of the top 50 players of the previous year's FedEx Cup standings as part of their changes. These events will see field sizes reduced to 70-78 players with no cut, but will not apply to the Majors, The Players or FedEx Cup playoffs. Five spots will also be earned through performances in non-designated events.
But LIV Golf stars such as Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, as well as Greg Norman's son, have mocked the move. Responding to the news, LIV Golf tweeted: "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations PGA Tour. Welcome to the future."
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LIV Golf players are unable to earn world ranking points with the lack of cuts and 54 holes events among the reasons.
And former world number one, Westwood said: "I’ve spent the last year reading how good full fields and cuts are!".
While Ian Poulter said: "Sounds somewhat familiar… Now I can’t wait to hear all the backtracking of comments from the last 7 months.".
But ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy spoke in favour of the "aspirational" changes that will be brought in for 2024 and insisted that they do not "reward mediocrity".
"We’ve always had no-cut events on this Tour," McIlroy said.
“If you think of the four World Golf Championships, the three playoffs events, the CJ Cup, the Zozo. So there’s precedent there. The only reason no-cut events are a big deal is because LIV has come along.
“There’s been no-cut events since I’ve been a member of the Tour and way beyond that as well. Is there going to be a few more of them? Maybe. “It keeps the stars there for four days.
"You ask Mastercard or whoever it is to pay $20m for a golf event, they want to see the stars at the weekend. They want a guarantee the stars are there.
“At the end of the day, we’re selling a product to people. The more clarity they have on that product and knowing what they’re buying is really important.”
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