The PGA Tour announced a wide series of changes – but not the one Tiger Woods has been demanding for decades.

Ever since LIV Golf launched in 2021, the PGA have been competing with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backed tour. But while the likes of Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson fled to sign multi-million pound deals with the rebel group, Woods, 48, remained loyal to the PGA.

In a bid to keep pace with LIV, the PGA announced several changes to the way they do things, including the introduction of smaller fields. But the one change Woods, and the majority of golf players, are demanding, is the freedom to play in shorts.

At present, all PGA players have to compete while wearing trousers, even in places such as Florida and South Africa. Unfortunately for Woods and co, the PGA will not move away from trousers.

In a previous interview in 2018, Woods was asked if he would rather play in shorts. He replied: “I would love it. We play in some of the hottest climates on the planet.

“We usually travel with the sun, and a lot of our events are in the summer, and then on top of that when we have winter months here, a lot of the guys will go down to South Africa and Australia where it’s summer down there.

“A lot of the tournaments are based right around the equator, so we play in some of the hottest places on the planet. It would be nice to wear shorts. Even with my little chicken legs, I still would like to wear shorts.”

Dustin Johnson of The United States and the 4Aces GC team plays his third shot on the second hole during the individual team stroke-play finals on day three of the LIV Golf Team Championship Dallas at Maridoe Golf Club on September 22, 2024 in Dallas, Texas

LIV players are allowed to wear shorts ( 

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Getty Images)

LIV Golf allows players to wear shorts in competition. Koepka has previously spoken out about how much he enjoys playing in shorts saying: “It’s so much nicer”. Woods and other PGA stars would have been happy to see many of the new amendments to PGA rules and competitions.

In October, the PGA Tour Players Advisory Council proposed a wide range of changes to the competitive structure of the tour.

Before revealing what they had changed, a statement from the PGA Tour Policy Board said: “The PGA Tour Policy Board today approved competitive changes supported by the Player Advisory Council (PAC) that will deliver a stronger and more competitive and entertaining PGA Tour to fans, players, tournaments and partner.”

Tiger Woods of the United States walks off the ninth tee during day two of the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship on the South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club on July 23, 2024 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Woods often practices wearing shorts but has to wear trousers on the PGA Tour ( 

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Getty Images)

Among the changes include the decrease in the number of players who can keep their tour cards with fully exempt status from 125 to 100 and the number of tour cards for players graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour to decrease from 30 to 20. Field sizes for many events, such as the Players’ Championship, have also been reduced.

PGA Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis commented on the changes, saying: “These field size adjustments, which also promote a better flow of play, improve the chances of rounds being completed each day with a greater ability to make the 36-hole cut on schedule under normal weather conditions.

“For our fans, this certainty sets up weekend storylines much more effectively and will make the PGA Tour easier and more enjoyable to follow.”