Lehman further asserted that allowing immediate access to PGA Tour fields undermines the commitment of players who rejected massive financial offers to remain loyal to the established circuit.
"When you come back, you go behind the tour school," remarked Lehman.
Lehman proposed that forcing players to spend an entire season on the developmental circuit would establish a proper penalty system for those who left.
"You know, and you start from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to eligibility and you work your way back up," said Lehman.
Lehman specifically targeted the current structural leniency that allows players to seamlessly rejoin the elite ranks after serving short administrative absences.
"And what that means for them is basically nothing but sponsor invites or even better yet, put them back on the Korn Ferry for a year," suggested Lehman.
The veteran golfer noted that he would have been highly critical of the administration's current compromises if he were actively competing on the tour today.
"But to leave, then to come back and be able to just jump right in and play at any point.
I don’t care if you sit out a year, it is wrong. I’m totally against that," stated Lehman.
Lehman reiterated that a standard disciplinary slap on the wrist is insufficient for repairing the competitive divide caused by the rival league.
"And if I was playing back then, or playing right now, I would be really vocal about that," added Lehman.
Lehman concluded his critique by stressing that the integrity of the tournament system depends entirely on merit-based re-entry pipelines.
