GREENSBORO, N.C. — Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods deserve respect for what they did to make the PGA Tour what it is today.
It is only fitting that Tiger and Jack and the caretakers of the Palmer legacy should have a say in how the tournaments they host are contested. Jack’s Memorial and the Arnold Palmer Invitational have been 120-man events for years while Tiger became involved in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, more recently and it got bumped to higher status in 2020.
Golfweek has learned that those three signature events, the new name for the Tour’s eight designated events, will continue to have a cut in 2024. Here’s what Billy Horschel, Adam Scott, Kevin Streelman and Justin Thomas think about that.
Billy Horschel hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
I sat on the fence on cut and no cut. I understand why we went to not wanting a cut. The guys who are the biggest draws are guaranteed to be there all four days. It allows all the spectators to come out and watch and not have to worry about being out there on Thursday or Friday and you don’t have to take off work, take off school, whatever it may be. I understand that complete side of it.
But I also think there’s something about having a cut and have it mean something out here. You can tell from watching somebody what type of stones they have when they’re trying to make a cut, whether they care a lot or whether they throw in the towel. You can get a good judgment off of a player if whether he has a chance on Sunday if he can get it over the line based off if he tries to grind out a tight cut. It shows the greatness of a player.
We knew those three events wanted a cut and I’m fine with it. I plan to be in those events and I have no issues with it at all.
Adam Scott of Australia plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 03, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images)
It’s fine. It may not be how I would’ve done it but I don’t think there is a problem with that. I’m not going to speak for all top players but I don’t think they are too worried if they are going to miss a cut or not in a tournament. It’s more for consistency of what the elevated events are trying to achieve.
Kevin Streelman of the United States waits under an umbrella on the 16th green during the first round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 03, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images)
I think we have to abide by what those three individuals and their entities want to do. Tiger, Jack and Arnie’s teams, they should be able to run their tournaments the way they want to.
Justin Thomas of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green during the first round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 03, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images)
When you have your own event, you’re definitely entitled to do what you want. I know I would be — I’m sure I would be that way if I had my own event and I wanted it a certain way and maybe the Tour or somebody didn’t. I’d be fighting it pretty hard, too. When those guys have done all they have and they’re the one that’s put in the time. Tiger, I’ve seen firsthand how much he does that week. If he wants to have a cut in his event, I think that’s more than OK to allow that I would say.