Rory McIlroy, Jay Monahan BLASTED by PGA Tour pro before Players WD

You can count Lanto Griffin as one of the players who isn't too pleased with Rory McIlroy and PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan after sweeping changes were announced to the 2024 schedule. 

In case it somehow escaped your attention, those changes will see as many as eight designated events reduced to fields of 70-78 players. 

There is also the added bonus for those that manage to get into these tournaments that they will not be cut. It's guaranteed money, baby. 

Related: Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy is taking more bullets than any other player on PGA Tour

Of course, there are many implications to the changes. Just one accusation the likes of McIlroy et al are facing is that it's simply becoming a closed shop for the elite. 

The rich will get inexplicably richer and the rank-and-file players like Griffin? They'll be wondering if there are enough routes and spots for these designated events. 

And what will become of the non-designated events? 

Griffin posted this underneath a GoldDigest graphic featuring Monahan and McIlroy. 

Yeah, he's not a happy bunny! 

Griffin was in the field for The Players Championship this week but was forced to withdraw due to an intercostal muscle strain.

He was replaced in the field by Ryan Armour but it's interesting to note the timing of his comment before the withdrawal. 

Who knows if there is anything more going on with that?! 

Despite the criticism, McIlroy was one of several players to widely defend the shake-up. 

The Northern Irishman, 33, insisted there is a route for players to get amongst it and compete for the mega-money that will be on offer. "Shoot the shots," McIlroy said. 

Before The Players, there was a members' only meeting held where McIlroy and the rest of the Players Advisory Council presented the changes. 

McIlroy said the temperature in the room wasn't nearly as hot as he had anticipated. 

 

 

 

 

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Reporting from The FirePit Collective suggested that Matt Kuchar was one player who strongly voiced his opinion. 

Another huge critic, James Hahn, absolutely tore the proposals to shreds in an extraordinary Golfweek interview. 

"I hate them," Hahn said. Despite saying this, Hahn reportedly didn't attend the meeting. 

McIlroy was angry at the snub from Hahn, describing it as a 'slap in the face' to everyone in that meeting. 

"You say all this s***," blasted McIlroy. Still, McIlroy calmed down and was later entertained by this fan who did a backflip for him. 

Next page: Scottie Scheffler's hilarious response to no-cut fields