The PGA Tour will reduce its number of full-time playing cards from 125 to 100 following the end of the 2025 season, and Rickie Fowler has had his say on the change

Rickie Fowler had his say on the PGA Tour(Image: Getty Images)

Rickie Fowler has backed the PGA Tour’s plans to reduce the number of full-time playing cards handed out from 125 to 100, despite criticism among some players.

Fowler, who is looking to bounce back from a missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, is in action at the John Deere Classic this week. The former world No. 6 is one of the biggest names in the field, with the non-Signature Event including a whole host of players who are playing for their PGA Tour future.

Points in the FedEx Cup are even more important this campaign, with Tour bosses cutting off their card line at 100 rather than 125.

While currently not playing his best golf, Fowler is not going anywhere, but not everyone in the field this week has the same luxury. The PGA Tour’s initial decision to reduce the number of cards on offer was not well-received by those further down the playing pyramid.

Fowler, however, believes the Tour is making the right move. “I think going to 100, I think, is the step in the right direction. We all want the PGA Tour to be the most elite tour there is out here, the best product,” the U.S. Ryder Cup star said ahead of this week’s event.

“I’m not saying that just the 100 is how we get there, but with guys getting, you know, maybe fewer and fewer starts towards the back end of what cards are available, guys earning cards, whether it’s Q-School or through Korn Ferry, I feel like their first year is almost like a tryout.

Rickie Fowler is in action this week(Image: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“You get a handful of starts and you better play good when you do; versus when you earn a card to feel like you actually have one. I think like that may be potentially where the TOUR might be heading. Ultimately be less cards; possibly less events.”

Fowler said similar in Detroit last week, when calling for fewer events and fewer players, by bringing an end to the Signature Event system and opposite tournaments on the same week. Not everyone is on board with Fowler’s support, though, including Lucas Glover.

I think it’s terrible,” Glover told Golfweek when the changes were being voted in last November. “And then hiding behind pace of play, I think, challenges our intelligence. They think we’re stupid.” Discussing the decision to reduce playing spots, he went on: “Don’t cut fields because it’s a pace of play issue.

“Tell us to play faster, or just say you’re trying to appease six guys and make them happy so they don’t go somewhere else and play golf.” One thing Glover and Fowler seemingly agree the Signature Event model, which sees a field of just 70 players compete for $20 million, often without a cut.

Glover has made it clear he is against the idea of making fields smaller, while Fowler believes running Signature and opposite events on the same week is impacting the integrity of the PGA Tour. Both Fowler and Glover are in action at TPC Deere Run this week.