The PGA Tour is considering significant changes to its schedule, including more events in major US cities and a stronger start to the season. Executive director Lee Smith discussed these plans and addressed the ongoing debate about elevating the Players Championship to major status. The tournament's promotional campaign has sparked discussions among players and analysts.
The PGA Tour is exploring a revamp of its annual schedule to include more tournaments in major US markets such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Boston, which currently lack annual stops. These cities rank as the top media markets, and adding events there could attract sponsorship from Fortune 500 companies. According to Players Championship executive director Lee Smith, priorities include 'starting the season big' by potentially moving the opener to after the Super Bowl in February, following popular February events like the WM Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and Genesis Invitational. The tour also aims to 'own the summer' with a leaner schedule to avoid overlapping with NFL and college football seasons, aligning with ideas from Tiger Woods, who chairs the Future Competition Committee. Smith indicated that more details could emerge soon, possibly during the Players Championship on March 12–15 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida. This event serves as a platform for announcements, including a potential 'state of the tour' address by CEO Brian Rolapp. A separate focus is the debate over whether the Players Championship qualifies as a major, prompted by its promotional tagline 'March Is Going to Be Major.' Smith described this as a 'signal of confidence' to start a conversation, noting the tournament's strong field and experience, enhanced this year by a concert featuring Ludacris on the 17th island green. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee called it the 'best major' due to its deepest field and history, where only one player has defended the title in 50 years—though Cameron Smith's 2023 defense was prevented by his move to LIV Golf and subsequent PGA Tour ban. Phil Mickelson disagreed, while two-time winner Rory McIlroy argued it 'stands on its own' without the major label, emphasizing tradition and the four established majors. McIlroy, who won in 2024 before his Masters victory, praised the event's identity over the PGA Championship. This year's Players will miss LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
