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PGA TOUR considers changes in season-ending format

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The PGA TOUR is considering a change to the end of its season in which players who don't make the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup would compete for their cards in a series of tournaments against top Nationwide Tour players.

PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Communications Ty Votaw confirmed the policy board has given preliminary approval to the concept, although it is in the early stages of discussion. The PGA TOUR began informing players by memo late Monday afternoon.

Another change being contemplated is q-school at the end of the year providing access only to the Nationwide Tour.

"There are still a number of steps," Votaw said.

The PGA TOUR has been looking at ways to strengthen the Nationwide Tour. It is looking for a new umbrella sponsor, because Nationwide has said it would not renew its contract after 2012.

Under the preliminary plan, the top 125 in the FedExCup standings after the Wyndham Championship would advance to the Playoffs and compete for $35 million in bonus money, with $10 million for the winner.

Those who don't make the top 125 would have the option of playing a series of three tournaments along with top Nationwide Tour players. Those tournaments also would have a points structure, and it would determine who gets PGA TOUR cards the following season.

Among the numbers being mentioned for the three-tournament series is 75 players from the FedExCup standings and the top 50 players from the Nationwide Tour money list, with the top 50 players from that series earning their cards.

"The number from the Nationwide that goes to the three-tournament series hasn't been determined yet," Votaw said. "And the question of how many cards has not been, either."

If the plan goes through, that means players could no longer go straight from q-school to the PGA TOUR. If a player doesn't make the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and doesn't make it through the three-tournament series, he still could compete the following year on limited status as a past champion or depending on how high he finished beyond the top 125. That part wouldn't change.

The PGA TOUR, over the past several years, has been awarding more cards through the Nationwide Tour money list than those who make it through six rounds of q-school. It feels players are more prepared for the big leagues after going through an entire season of traveling and trying to make cuts.

Such a change, however, would eliminate dreams of long shots who go make it through q-school, some of them fresh out of college, others who have toiled through mini-tours.

J.B. Holmes and Dustin Johnson are among those who went straight from college and made it through q-school, then won in their rookie season. A year ago, Rickie Fowler went from q-school to a spot on the Ryder Cup team.

Some PGA TOUR officials feel those players are exceptions, and that the quality of fields would be strengthened.

It also would add a layer of drama to the end of the year -- PGA TOUR players who struggled and Nationwide Tour players who performed well, meeting in a cutthroat series of events.

Still to be determined is how the Fall Series, which typically is held after the FedExCup, would be effected.

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Comments (9)
	ScottSorrell 3/22/2011 5:44:33 PM Too many changes very year to keep up with. I pretty sure that the cream always rises to the top.
	cogolfer1 3/22/2011 4:52:04 PM I am not a fan. All I want them to change is making majors worth the most points. To have the 4 FedEx events worth more is mind boggling.
	bradley894 3/22/2011 2:37:25 PM HERE is an idia for you brain sergions on the pga marketing squad and ill expect my consulting check in the mail tomorrow! po Why dont you take some of that cabbage you make and pay out to your players 1.5 million for first place and take a half mill and stick it into payout on the nationwide!!!!!! get the prize money up on the nationwide and they will come! you will have a dozen guys from the champions tour stop in and play some tournaments you will have another half dozen guys who have recognizable names from the pga tour but have lost there cards and you will have another pile of the Best unrecognizable golfers in the united states willing to give up the security of there jobs because they can make a living playing golf! you want a tour that folks will come out and watch when a stop is in there neighborhood get some names out there.. yung guns, make sure the local amitor champs are there on exemption. make sure you have local qualifyers and make sure there are some old school names... maybe you will have more then 15 family members following on each hole! now you have a all your big names playing 30% of your events because they make there living on there endorsements and not on your payout! everyone is playing for a win because of your fed ex cup joke of a points race and the fact that endorsements and long term servival depend on it.. Its time to Wake up or you will be left behind by the rest of the world. you want your nationwide tour to grow and become something? dont subsodize it by watering down the field with spoiled rich guys! strengthin it by finding a way to make sure guys who are playing that tour can make a living doing what they love! finnishing in the top 20% of the season points race and not comming out ahead for the year and not being able to feed your new baby and wife is Not a good program! these golfers on the nationwide are in the top 500 in the WORLD and cant make a living? are you kidding me? how
	bradley894 3/22/2011 2:37:25 PM HERE is an idia for you brain sergions on the pga marketing squad and ill expect my consulting check in the mail tomorrow! po Why dont you take some of that cabbage you make and pay out to your players 1.5 million for first place and take a half mill and stick it into payout on the nationwide!!!!!! get the prize money up on the nationwide and they will come! you will have a dozen guys from the champions tour stop in and play some tournaments you will have another half dozen guys who have recognizable names from the pga tour but have lost there cards and you will have another pile of the Best unrecognizable golfers in the united states willing to give up the security of there jobs because they can make a living playing golf! you want a tour that folks will come out and watch when a stop is in there neighborhood get some names out there.. yung guns, make sure the local amitor champs are there on exemption. make sure you have local qualifyers and make sure there are some many great golfers are there in this country who dont even give it a shot? you say your pga represents the best of the BEST? I say BULL! i say there is more tallent out there than you think that doesnt even bother to take a shot!
	72Wannabe 3/22/2011 2:09:57 PM they make so many changes every year i cant keep up.
	bradley894 3/22/2011 2:09:43 PM This is CRAP! follow the money! what percentage of Nation wide players who get there cards for the pga after competing all season retain there tour cards without having to go back to Q school? This is the PGA trying to lock up the Nation wide tour as a the ONLY stepping stone to the PGA tour! there are only so many Cards or entrants that can be granted for a pga tour event. The pga is looking .at trying to make some money and thats why they are doing this. The Nation wide tour payout doesnt pay the bills for a golfer that invests his time in it other than the top of the class. adding three tournaments at the end of the year with half the field well known names and the other half future potential will sell a tour stop . The pga hasnt found a way to promote Q school to the veiwing public so they want to eliminate it. without the dream of playing college golf with a chance at the big tour and a living playing golf our younger high school and college golfers will not work as hard on there game! knowing full well that 95 percent of these young players do not have the money or well to do family support to ride out a couple years on the nation wide tour if they even make it on at all.. This is a bad move by the pga and will do the oposite of what they are saying they are trying to do! there will be less of a pool of golfers to draw from.. other tallented players of all ages will have no reason to join a local mini tour to gain experiance and take a shot at Q school at the end of the year! they simply cant afford to travel the country and only play regionaly. this is a pay to play situation and we will end up with a good old boy network and a spoiled richboy playground. no longer does tallent get you anywhere.. its if you can afford to lose money for a hand full of years and then what? so many great golfers who many didnt break 80 till college or after high school and in a short time improve to championship levels will
	bradley894 3/22/2011 2:09:43 PM This is CRAP! follow the money! what percentage of Nation wide players who get there cards for the pga after competing all season retain there tour cards without having to go back to Q school? This is the PGA trying to lock up the Nation wide tour as a the ONLY stepping stone to the PGA tour! there are only so many Cards or entrants that can be granted for a pga tour event. The pga is looking .at trying to make some money and thats why they are doing this. The Nation wide tour payout doesnt pay the bills for a golfer that invests his time in it other than the top of the class. adding three tournaments at the end of the year with half the field well known names and the other half future potential will sell a tour stop . The pga hasnt found a way to promote Q school to the veiwing public so they want to eliminate it. without the dream of playing college golf with a chance at the big tour and a living playing golf our younger high school and college golfersnot be willing or able to take a shot at making a living in pro golf! what about the young or old tallent with a family? cant just take a shot at q school you need to lay out a couple seasons of sacrifice and major cash! Its CRAP! the US open will be the only chance you will have (good luck) talk about more tallent going over seas! say goodbye to the rider cup for the U.S team forever! we need our Brightest and most tallented kids competing for the cards not a bunch tallented and Rich kids who take up the slots because they have some game and the cash! not to mention what it will do to all the golfers in the country who have the dream! club pro's college champions who had to take time off from golf to handle the issues of life for a wile.. ya its a long shot to make the big show but if the pga takes the dream away from the everyday golfer then what will happen.. many even older dreamers will not play as much or enjoy the quest for great golf with a
	bradley894 3/22/2011 2:09:43 PM This is CRAP! follow the money! what percentage of Nation wide players who get there cards for the pga after competing all season retain there tour cards without having to go back to Q school? This is the PGA trying to lock up the Nation wide tour as a the ONLY stepping stone to the PGA tour! there are only so many Cards or entrants that can be granted for a pga tour event. The pga is looking .at trying to make some money and thats why they are doing this. The Nation wide tour payout doesnt pay the bills for a golfer that invests his time in it other than the top of the class. adding three tournaments at the end of the year with half the field well known names and the other half future potential will sell a tour stop . The pga hasnt found a way to promote Q school to the veiwing public so they want to eliminate it. without the dream of playing college golf with a chance at the big tour and a living playing golf our younger high school and college golfers chance or dream to chase.. im talking about the average joe with a usga hdcp also.. if i took a pole of how many golfers dream of playing in a tour event it would prob be like 90%. go ahead and take the dream away from your audiance pga! your audiance pays the bills and without them and there dream they have no reason to watch your show! or even play your game. The Fed ex cup points race is a joke. our kids will know they have no way to pay for a two or 3 year run on your nation wide MINI Tour with student loans to pay after graduation.. sure take away there shot! and if you dont think it will trickle down tho high school golf and so fourth your Nuts.. these 7th and 8 grade golfers know that if they learn the game and work hard they will get there shot . they may fail but they get there shot before life kickes in as long as there is Q school.. go ahead and take it away. nice! just about the worst idia i ever heard!
	PeteG512 3/22/2011 9:26:28 AM Interesting ideas

PeteG512

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