The PGA Tour are planning to introduce clear promotion and relegation between a ‘two-track system’ of tournaments as part of widespread changes to their schedule.
The Future Competition Committee – chaired by Tiger Woods – was launched at the Tour Championship last August to try and build ‘the best version of the PGA Tour’, with CEO Brian Rolapp providing an update on their vision ahead of The Players.
Rolapp admitted that the PGA Tour’s plans were ‘by no means a baked cake’ and that nothing had been finalised, although revealed six ‘key themes’ that were emerging as they look to improve the tour.
Plans include doubling the number of Signature Events and making them closer to 120-player fields as part of a 21-26 event season, which would see the campaign played from late-January to early-September.
They look to begin the season at an iconic venue on the West Coast and look at new areas to play events, targeting ‘major markets where there is a strong demand’ for golf and ‘a chance to reach new fans’.
It was also confirmed they were exploring ways to enhance their post-season, including the possibility of match play events, while they are evaluating promotion and relegation to bring a merit-based pathway to the biggest events.
“We are aiming to go create a more cohesive schedule with a simpler point system, one where the best players compete against one another more frequently,” Rolapp said in the press conference, held at PGA Tour’s global home next to TPC Sawgrass.
How would promotion and relegation work?
Promotion effectively already exits on the PGA Tour, with players dropping down to the Korn Ferry Tour if they don’t secure a high enough ranking in the season-long FedExCup standings, but the new system would include relegation within the main level.
The Signature Events will now form the bulk of the ‘top tier’ schedule, while they will have a ‘second track’ of PGA Tour tournaments for players to then earn their spots in the bigger events.
“You see this work powerfully elsewhere, including in English football, where clubs move between the Premier League and the Championship based on their performance,” Rolapp explained.
“Applying elements of that approach to the PGA Tour creates real consequence, lifting the competitive standard across the entire platform. Play well and you earn the opportunity to compete in our biggest events and for more money.”
Signature Events are currently limited-field events offering increased purses and FedExCup points, with some offering no cut, although the PGA Tour are now targeting ‘something closer to 120-player fields with a cut’.
“Our best events will have larger fields,” Rolapp added. “That consistently matters. It helps fans know who they will see and showcases who they want to see, the most competitive players.
“It helps partners know what they’re investing in, and it helps players better understand the competitive landscape in their schedules, all while embracing meritocracy.”
What about the DP World Tour and LIV Golf?
Rolapp offered no mention of their Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour during his opening statement, although later discussed that working with them in these changes was ‘very much high on the agenda’.
The LIV Golf League was also missing from his initial remarks, with Rolapp later confirming that improving the PGA Tour product was more important that attempts to unify the men’s game.
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The stars of the PGA Tour will gather at TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players, with extended coverage live throughout the week on Sky Sports.
“I think I’ve been clear about this; my brief is to make the PGA Tour better,” Rolapp explained. “I’m open to whatever makes the PGA Tour better. That is my brief. Better for fans, better for our members. So that’s what I’m focused on, and that’s where I put all my efforts.”
The PGA Tour created the Returning Member Program to find a way for Brooks Koepka to return after leaving LIV Golf, although has no plans to welcome players to compete on both circuits.
“We were very explicit that that was a one-time situational returning member program, and I stand by that,” Rolapp said. “I think the LIV players know what those pathways are, and until they change, those are the pathways.”
On LIV players potentially featuring at The Players, Rolapp said: “That [including LIV players at The Players] is not a priority I’ve put on my list. That’s not something I’ve sort of considered to date. There’s other priorities other than that.”
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It’s 25 years since Tiger Woods won his first Players Championship. On his way to winning at TPC Sawgrass he hit one of the most iconic putts in Tour history, making birdie at the par-3 17th during the third round.
How close could this be to happening?
Rolapp emphasised that nothing has yet been finalised and no recommendations have gone through to the player-led boards, with ‘complex process’ involving working with players, partners and stakeholders.
A further announcement is expected at the Travelers Championship in June, following a board meeting, with another update then expected during the season-ending Tour Championship.
Any changes will be made ‘through a rolling approach’ and some could be in place for as early as next season, although Rolapp predicted that significant change was unlikely until the 2028 campaign.
“We will continue to move with urgency, but we are focused on getting it right. We are certainly proud of our history and just as focused on building the strongest possible future for our game and for our fans.”
Watch The Players throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins at 11.30am on Thursday and Friday before starting at 1pm over the weekend, with highlights and additional shows on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
