PGA Tour changes are already causing headaches for players on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour, with some guaranteed spots suddenly not looking so guaranteed.
The drama started when several players who earned their spots through Q-School in December found themselves unexpectedly waitlisted for the season’s first two tournaments in the Bahamas.
It’s a direct result of bigger changes happening up on the PGA Tour. They’re cutting field sizes for 2026 and changing who gets to play in 2025, including taking away 10 cards from the Korn Ferry Tour. This means more established pros are looking to play wherever they can.
The tour had to scramble to fix things. On Friday, they announced they’re expanding both Bahamas events to 144 players to fit in everyone who should’ve had a guaranteed spot.
“We closely monitored the fields,” said Korn Ferry Tour president Alex Baldwin in a message to players. She blamed several factors, including a new course in Nassau that’s easier to get to and changes in both tours’ schedules.
For players like Petr Hruby, it was a roller coaster of emotions.
Hruby, who just turned pro after playing at the University of Washington, got quite a shock when he checked his status last week. Despite earning a guaranteed spot through Q-School, he was sixth on the alternate list.
“But then in the back of my mind, I was like, ‘Well, they said guaranteed,'” Hruby said Friday night.
He’d already flown from the Czech Republic to Florida to prepare for the season. His girlfriend, mom, and sister had booked flights from Europe to watch him play.
“Sweet, I don’t have to cancel flights,” Hruby said when he got the news about the expanded field. “At the same time, worst case, I was thinking we’ll go have a vacation in the Bahamas.”
The situation is even tougher for players like Shad Tuten. He finished 78th in points last season while playing just 13 events due to a heart issue. In previous years, his ranking would’ve easily gotten him into both Bahamas tournaments.
Making it worse, Tuten’s request for a medical extension was denied due to a mix-up about how many events he could play while still qualifying for medical status.
“This upcoming year will be the hardest yet with status that isn’t great,” Tuten said. “This won’t break me, and I will come back; I always have.”
The tour will keep both Bahamas fields at 144 players, pulling from the alternate list if anyone withdraws. After the Bahamas, the tour heads to South and Central America for four events, where most fields will be bigger at 156 players.
