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TSN Senior Reporter

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The PGA Tour is going to ask its players to tee it up a little more often. And in places they haven’t played before.

Under a new rule that came in with the start of the 2016-17 season, members who played fewer than 25 times the previous season need to add a stop to their schedule and it must be an event they haven’t played in the previous four years.

Those who don’t comply will face a heavy fine or possibly suspension.

The move is intended to strengthen fields of events that have consistently failed to attract top players due to dates or other reasons. The LPGA has a similar rule that requires all its members to play every event once in a four-year cycle.

Players who didn’t meet the 25-tournament minimum include the likes of Jason Day (20), Dustin Johnson (22), Adam Scott (20) and Rory McIlroy (18). There were 78 golfers in the top 125 who did play 25 or more times including Patrick Reed (28) and Brandt Snedeker (27). Golfers 45 and older or who have 20 career wins - hello Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods - are exempt.

The ruling can get complicated for golfers who have played a variety of tournaments over the past four years. Trying to find one that fits the bill can mean limited options on courses they may not be particularly suited for their games.

It could help events such as the RBC Canadian Open for example, a tournament not necessarily a top choice due primarily to its date between the U.S. and British Opens. It might mean players who Canadian golf fans haven’t seen in some time will be at the tournament, for one year, at least.

While the ruling won’t severely impact any North American golfers, those who play on two tours will need to sandwich another start somewhere. European golfers such as Henrik Stenson may have only played 14 PGA Tour events but he also added six on the European Tour plus the Olympics. European Tour members are required to play in five tournaments not including majors or World Golf Championship events to maintain their status.