The 2025 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course kicks off this week with an impressive field of professional golfers. Known for its challenging “Snake Pit” finishing holes, the tournament has already seen several notable withdrawals, including Akshay Bhatia (who finished T3 at The PLAYERS), Daniel Berger, Aaron Rai, and Erik van Rooyen. With most securing spots in upcoming Signature Events or taking strategic breaks before the Masters, these withdrawals were understandable. However, it was one particular replacement sequence that caught the attention of social media and highlighted just how complex the Tour’s policies can be.
The confusion began when PGA Tour Communications announced on their official X account that Carson Young had withdrawn from the Valspar Championship and was replaced by Bronson Burgoon from the alternate list. There was nothing unusual there. But just an hour later, they posted that Burgoon had also withdrawn, and instead of naming another replacement, they simply stated, “Field will be 155 players.” This unexpected reduction in the field size left fan-favorite pro-Michael S. Kim publicly baffled, as he responded, “Even I’m confused… haha.”
After some investigation, Kim posted a follow-up clarification: “Ah it was because the field was expanded from 144-156 and won’t take any more alternates. Something along those lines.” His explanation revealed a policy detail that many fans and even some pros weren’t aware of. The tournament had originally expanded its field from the standard 144 to 156 players, and after reaching a certain threshold of withdrawals, officials decided not to add more alternates. This situation highlighted how even active PGA Tour pros with years of experience can struggle to understand the Tour’s complex policies.
Even I’m confused… haha
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) March 18, 2025
The scenario was especially perplexing because the Valspar Championship had already processed several other withdrawals smoothly. Alejandro Tosti had replaced Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Baddeley had stepped in for Erik van Rooyen, and Takumi Kanaya had taken Trey Mullinax’s spot (Mullinax’s first early WD since returning from hip surgery). So, what made Burgoon’s case different? Let’s look at how these policies have evolved over time.
The evolution of the PGA Tour’s withdrawal system
The PGA Tour’s replacement policies have changed significantly over the decades. In the early days, organizers handled replacements on a case-by-case basis without standardized procedures. But as professional golf grew, so did the need for clearer rules. Today, the Tour uses a sophisticated alternate list system with a priority ranking to call up replacements when a player drops out.
Field sizes have also seen major changes, particularly in recent years. For the 2025 season, officials reduced the maximum number of players in standard tournaments from 156 to 144, though they granted special permission for some events, like the Valspar Championship, to expand their fields. The timing of withdrawals plays a crucial role, too. If a player withdraws very close to tee time and no alternate is readily available, tournaments sometimes simply proceed with a reduced field, as happened at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year.
As the 2025 season continues under Jay Monahan’s leadership, this minor incident highlights a major point: even the most seasoned golf professionals can lose themselves in the web of tournament policies. While these rules ensure fair competition, perhaps a bit more transparency would help both players and fans better understand the game we all love. What do you think—should the Tour simplify its policies or just communicate them more clearly? Let us know in the comments!
The post Jay Monahan & Co.’s Policy Leaves PGA Tour Pro ‘Confused’ Amid Ongoing Valspar Championship Saga appeared first on EssentiallySports.
