"I think we’ve found a pretty good balance right now" - Jordan Spieth comments on PGA Tour's recent changes
Jordan Spieth feels the PGA Tour has found a good balance between preserving its historical significance while also implementing modern changes to reward top golfers around the world.
Speaking to the press after the conclusion of his first round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Spieth said:
“I think we’ve found a pretty good balance right now in holding on to that history of it but also making modern adjustments that, in my opinion, reward appropriately to the guys who beat the best in the world week-in and week-out."
Earlier this week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Manohan announced an overhaul of some of the biggest Tour events outside the majors. One such major change includes the introduction of 'no-cut' in these events with the field size slashed to 70-80 players, something similar to LIV Golf events. This has sparked a new debate among golf lovers.
Spieth acknowledged the role of Woods and McIlroy last year in combating LIV Golf as a potential threat to the PGA Tour. He added:
"Some of the veterans in there, guys like Tiger and even Rory, were pretty influential and saying, 'Hey, this is a meritocracy, and we need to keep it the way'".
The three-time major winner accepted that without the emergence of LIV, the PGA Tour wouldn't have brought in such drastic changes. Spieth said:
“I would be lying if I said that we would have gone through this without LIV. But at the same time, we haven’t mentioned them in any of our discussions on what we think is best for the Tour."
He added that the Tour has been open to all suggestions and is "player-friendly." Jordan Spieth added that it was fun to be a part of.
Jordan Spieth posts an impressive 4 under on Day 1 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Jordan Spieth looked back in form at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he carded a 4-under-68 in the first round at Bay Hill. He shot seven birdies and a bogey to finish the first round. The three-time major winner had missed the cut in his last tournament, the Genesis Invitational.
However, it was once again World No. 1 Jon Rahm, taking a two-stroke lead after playing 7-under-65 at Bay Hill. The tournament favorite holed six birdies and an eagle along with just one bogey on the eighth.
Rahm said after the conclusion of the first round:
"Go through the round and you'll see plenty of mistakes. I just took advantage of minimizing mistakes and converted a couple of situations into really good scores. But it can always be better."
Chris Kirk, who won the recently concluded Honda Classic, was in a three-way tie alongside Kurt Kitayama and Cameron Young. Rory McIlroy started poorly with 1-over 73 at Bay Hill. He shot three birdies but three bogeys and a double bogey on the sixth spoiled his day.
The purse size of the Arnold Palmer Invitational is $20 million with the winner receiving $3.6 million and the runner-up getting $2.18 million.