The PGA Tour has notified Jon Rahm he has been suspended for signing with Saudi-funded LIV Golf, a formality that’s extra about the advantages to the gamers he leaves behind.
Mackenzie Hughes and Carl Yuan are the speedy beneficiaries of Rahm’s choice final week to signal with the rival league.
In a memo to gamers Monday afternoon, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned Rahm’s suspension “attributable to his affiliation with a sequence of unauthorized tournaments” removes his title from the FedEx Cup eligibility factors checklist.
Meaning Hughes goes from No. 51 to No. 50, and now could be eligible for all seven of the $20 million signature occasions in 2024. It additionally means Yuan, who was signed up for Q-school this week, strikes up one spot to No. 125 and has a full PGA Tour card for subsequent yr.
The tour final yr distinguished between the FedEx Cup standings and a separate checklist associated to eligibility for the postseason and for standing. The excellence was so gamers defecting to LIV wouldn’t have a destructive affect on those that stayed behind.
Amongst those that benefited final yr have been Rickie Fowler, who obtained into the postseason due to all of the gamers who left for LIV; and Jimmy Walker and Rory Sabbatini, who moved up on the profession cash checklist and have been in a position to make use of one-time exemptions to maintain full standing.
This yr, Hughes narrowly missed out on the highest 50. He saved his 51st place via the autumn, which solely would have assured him spots within the first two $20 million occasions. Now the Canadian can rely on the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship in his dwelling residence of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Alex Smalley goes to the No. 60 spot and now could be assured of two $20 million occasions. The modifications additionally have an effect on Paul Haley, who strikes to No. 150 and now has not less than conditional standing.
And it may impact Sahith Theegala. He completed No. 31 to narrowly miss the Tour Championship. He strikes as much as No. 30, which may make him exempt for the U.S. Open. This yr, the U.S. Open acknowledged the highest 30 who have been eligible.
The actions have been allowed as a result of the brand new season has not began. If extra PGA Tour gamers go away for LIV earlier than the top of the yr, that would result in extra modifications.
Monahan additionally mentioned within the memo that the coverage board and administration not too long ago met with a bunch of gamers upset that signature occasions will supply disproportionately extra FedEx Cup factors than the opposite occasions, resulting in issues it is going to be tough for gamers exterior the highest 50 to pretty compete.
Monahan mentioned the board will evaluation how the brand new system is working in June and consider whether or not modifications are to ensure that 2025.
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