WGT main priority when releasing stuff or changing rules is to make more money out of their costumers....us.
Yup, those 200 raked matches to achieve the champion status is nothing else but asking all TL's to use more balls as fast as possible.
Only by invitation?, of course they could have simply taken the best "known" TL players based on Approach And Chipping statistics: GR, Avg Distance to pin, Sand save & Scrambling and amount of ranked matches played......LOL, I can even myself choose them in a couple of hours : ))).
What is interesting for TL's to become Champions?....no new tees, no new default green speed, no longer or more difficult courses...what is the bloody point?, giving lower skilled TL's the chance to enter more RG's?..(which means more money for WGT fees)....NOTHING ELSE BUT THE STATUS!!!
I guess some rich TL's would love to pay any price to have the new "status" called "champion"....
It would have been more fair to ask TL's to play a "Champion Tour" with single play running for some months with tough conditions and a minimum of participation....THAT IS FAIR.
.....be welcome to use MORE MONEY and get the Champion status : ))))
Eric