Rory McIlroy has given a glowing endorsement to Keith Pelley after the chief executive laid out his vision for the European Tour earlier this week.
Pelley announced on Tuesday that he was determined to make the European Tour a "viable alternative" to the PGA Tour within the next five years, demanding increased prize funds and adopting a "players-first" policy.
The Canadian also confirmed that the minimum number of events required to retain Tour membership would be reduced from 13 to five, excluding majors and WGC events, to make it easier for US-based players outside the world's top 50.
Pelley also caused a stir when he referred to this week's season-ending DP World Tour Championship as the Tour's "flagship event" - a title usually reserved for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where the prize purse of five million euros was deemed "unacceptable".
"He makes a great point," McIlroy said after his opening 68 in Dubai. "The Colonial in America has a prize fund of a million more (than Wentworth). Keith said to me if that's our flagship event, that's a bit embarrassing for the European Tour.
"There's a lot of things to be done, but he's made a great start and he's saying all the right things. I had breakfast with him for about 40 minutes (on Tuesday) and then Justin (Rose) and Henrik (Stenson) and I met him for about an hour and a half that afternoon as well, just going through a few different things.
"He's trying, not really for us guys, but the guys coming through like Matt Fitzpatrick, to provide them a viable alternative instead of going to America because they feel like they have to.
"Now they can stay at home and have 10 $7m events to play in with plenty of world ranking points, and then they can go over and play the majors and WGCs and three or four invites on the PGA Tour if they don't feel like they get enough good golf on the European Tour.
"I love where he's thinking. I love everything that he's saying. It's just a matter of now trying to implement those changes, which is obviously easier said than done."
McIlroy also expressed his surprise at learning that Tiger Woods had been appointed an assistant captain to Davis Love III for next year's Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
Woods, currently recovering from his third back operation in a little over 18 months, has been added to Love's backroom team along with Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and former captain Tom Lehman.
"I don't know what to think about that, I really don't," McIlroy said. "It's great that he wants to help the US team in any way that he can, and if that's not in a playing capacity, then as a vice-captain. Just sort of makes me think what really his health is like and how he feels like he's going to come back from that.
"I'd rather see him on the course at Hazeltine but if not, at least he'll be there and it will be a good addition for them.
"I think Jordan (Spieth) and Tiger have become quite close and if you look at the likes of Justin Thomas or Daniel Berger, some of the guys that are similar age to me or a little bit younger that grew up idolising Tiger, to have someone like him to be a part of the team will be great for them."