Matt Fitzpatrick, the US Open champion, has expressed concern over the state of the DP World Tour despite the strategic alliance formed with its equivalent in the United States.
The PGA Tour has recently announced changes for 2024, including a batch of no-cut and limited field events, which Fitzpatrick fears leaves the former European Tour trailing as a poor second. Fitzpatrick has previously used the term “feeder tour” to describe the DP World circuit.
“You’ve only got to look at the fields back home and how many times the top players are going back to play,” said Fitzpatrick after a second round of 71 at the Players Championship. “My biggest gripe is that the PGA Tour aren’t doing enough, if it’s a strategic alliance, to help build up the DP World Tour.
“People will say I’m one of those who have left the European Tour but I haven’t. I still play over there. But the best players are over here and I need to compete against them as often as I can. I’ll still go back but I really don’t know how often you can do that when it’s all geared to playing here.”
Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s chief executive, spent the early part of this week at Sawgrass in meetings with the PGA Tour’s management. It seems logical that enhancements to the DP World Tour’s schedule will soon be announced. The PGA and DP World Tours came together in a bid to head off the threat posed by the rebel LIV platform. Still, certain players such as Fitzpatrick appear unconvinced.
Fitzpatrick is similarly sceptical over the handing of 10 PGA Tour cards to otherwise nonexempt players from the DP World Tour at the end of each season. “It adds to the message that you’ve got to play over here,” said the Yorkshireman. “It will just make it more difficult for the European Tour to get strong fields going forward. The Tour seemed to be on a good path, then Covid came, and everything that has happened since then has blown it out of the water really.”
Fitzpatrick’s three over par total was not sufficient to make the Players cut. Damage was done during an opening round of 76. “I don’t know what it is about me and this place,” Fitzpatrick said. “I played well the one year, but that’s it. I wouldn’t say I actively dislike it, but it obviously doesn’t suit my eye, or my game.”
Jon Rahm, who had posted a 71 on Thursday, withdrew before the start of round two due to a stomach complaint. Rory McIlroy is among those who will have to return on Saturday morning to complete their second round after inclement weather halted play on Friday afternoon. McIlroy, who will restart on the 11th, sits plus six and five shots outside the cut line.