PGA Tour may reduce size of some fields

Some players have suggested smaller fields might improve the pace of play, although that's not the reason the PGA Tour policy board is considering reducing the number of players in as many as 10 tournaments next year.

"It's a matter of daylight more than anything else," Olin Browne, a policy board member, said over the weekend at the Canadian Open. "It's onerous to expect a guy to warm up in the dark or finish in the dark."

That was the case at the Phoenix Open this year, one of the events targeted for change. Because of frost delays and limited daylight, 21 players didn't finish the first round and 25 players had to return Saturday morning to complete the second round.

Some of the fall tournaments run into similar problems.

The tour policy is for full-field events to have 144 players before April, and 156 players during daylight-saving times (with a few exceptions). Browne said the board has proposed reducing fields by 12 players at certain events.

Among those targeted are the Sony Open, Phoenix Open and Nissan Open early in the season, along with Greensboro and Tampa Bay in the fall.

The issue now goes to the Players Advisory Council, which will poll PGA Tour members. A final decision is expected at the next policy board meeting in November.

"Most members are not in favor," Browne said. "The board isn't in favor of it, either. I think we all agree that everyone should have as many opportunities to play as possible. But we should be able to start and finish in daylight."

If the proposal is adopted, Browne said it wouldn't be as simple as cutting the bottom 12 players on the list. He said some eligibility categories could be eliminated, depending on the tournaments.