When both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour resume their schedules, we already know that the product on the course is going to look a lot different. That’s not the only thing that’s going to be different though.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour announced that the traditional relegation and promotion between both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour will be amended for the 2019-2020 season.
Under normal circumstances, those that finish outside the top 125 on the PGA Tour at the conclusion of the regular season lose their Tour status for the following year. They can go to the Korn Ferry Tour playoffs and try and earn at least partial status back. That stipulation will be going away for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, due to the remainder of the Korn Ferry Tour going into the 2020-2021 PGA Tour schedule, only the top 10 players will receive promotion onto the PGA Tour and they will only receive limited status.
In a statement to the Golf Channel, the Tour said:
Due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in 13 events from the 2019-20 PGA Tour season to be canceled or postponed, the PGA Tour has extended eligibility for exempt 2019-20 PGA Tour members for the 2020-21 season, unless the member’s priority ranking at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season would rank higher in the updated eligibility categories.
“This eligibility update, contingent upon the planned restart of the season at the Charles Schwab Challenge the week of June 8, was deemed the best and most equitable solution for the membership at large after research by our competitions department and significant conversations with the Policy Board and Player Advisory Council.
“While the Korn Ferry Tour will not have a graduating class in 2020 due to the PGA Tour eligibility changes, we have established a performance benefit for the top 10 from the final Korn Ferry Tour points list following the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance. Those players will be granted access into all PGA Tour additional events for the 2020-21 season. Additional details relative to the Korn Ferry Tour and an adjusted/extended season are expected to be announced on Monday, May 4
Both tours are scheduled to resume their seasons on June 11.
