will be really really interesting to see how the PGA tour opens its arms back up. Pat Reed has a year of suspension and then he can rejoin the tour. Bryson and Rahm chose not to take the offer. Wonder if the PGA tour decides to give Bryson and Rahm an offer similar to Reeds and then tell the rest of the guys to fuck off.
Do you know how the big payouts were structured for players like Rahm? I'm wondering if he got all that money up front or if it was supposed to be spread out over each year, and if that was the case, does he lose out on any of that after this year?
This is true and not true. Reed is basically qualifying again via the Euro tour. They can’t stop him from doing that. But he’s only “back” if he qualifies again: he has limited exemptions available for career money and his exempt status as a past Masters champ ran out in 2023. I would not be surprised if they told Rahm and Bryson to do the same. Rahm could play the Euro tour for a year; assuming he finished in the top 10 on the money list (no guarantee, but likely), he gets his tour card back. He could also take up to 7 sponsors exemptions for PGA Tour events during the year. That, plus the majors (he’s in every one of them through 2028 as the 2023 Masters winner) might be enough to get him back on tour sooner if he came out guns blazing. Not exactly confident of that, though the talent is undeniable. Bryson is almost certainly going to be told he can have a path via Q School or KFT. His status as a draw in the game is without question, but he signed the stupid lawsuit they brought against the Tour long ago. All the players on the player council have it out for blood for those guys, and Bryson is no exception. Part of me also wants to see him play YouTube golf only and then try to play the majors and see what happens.