Eddie Pepperell has lashed out at both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour after the latter announced they would be to removing the cut from a selection of ‘designated’ events in 2024.
Eight of the PGA Tour’s leading events – excluding Majors – will feature smaller fields along with the removal of the traditional 36-hole cut. These ‘designated’ events will also be reduced to 70-78 players with elevated prize purses on offer as well as FedExCup points.
The announcement was met with plenty of backlash on Golf Twitter, with many calling out the PGA Tour for following in the footsteps of LIV Golf, whom they have been at civil war with over the last 12 months.
More limited field events with no cuts has also led to concerns from lower ranked-players, including two-time DP World Tour winner Pepperell, who insisted the cut is an integral part of the game.
“In mid 2018, I bogeyed the last hole in back to back events in Germany and Ireland to M/C by 1 shot, it killed me,” tweeted Pepperell.
“I went home, thought about shit, and then came 2nd at the Scottish Open and (nearly) won the Open at Carnoustie (with a hangover..)
“A year on in 2019, thanks in part to those two good performances in Scotland, I recall playing poorly in both the WGC’s in Mexico and Memphis, and not caring about anything during the final round. Missing cuts is essential for growth as a professional golfer.
“We could argue that the top guys who will be playing the elevated events in 2024 have already done all their ‘growing’. But you’d be surprised how much it means to make a cut when your backs up against the wall and you’re struggling. It’s a mini win, and it breeds great things.
“So whether it’s LIV or now the PGA Tour, as someone who has played competitively for years now, removing the cut is one of the worst things to happen to the game in the last 12 months. Rant over.”
There was also plenty of pushback from LIV Golf and their players, with their format of limited fields and no cuts constantly slated since launching last year.
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations PGA Tour. Welcome to the future.#LIVGolf
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 1, 2023
Sounds somewhat familiar… 🤷🏼♂️ Now I can’t wait to hear all the back tracking of comments from the last 7 months. 👂🏼 https://t.co/TktVVt5vDU
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 1, 2023
I thought no cut no legacy 😂
— Kevin Na (@kevinna915) March 1, 2023
