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Message
Some major changes are coming to PGA Tour
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:16 pm
Lynch: Change coming to PGA Tour, as are tough conversations for Brian Rolapp
AI summary of the linked article
AI summary of the linked article
quote:
The PGA Tour is gearing up for some major shakeups, guys. According to this Golfweek piece by Eamon Lynch, they’re about to drop the pretense and officially go to a tiered system to fix the schedule and focus on the big stars. Basically ending the old “everyone’s equal” vibe that’s been around forever.
Key changes they’re proposing (TL;DR version):
• Create an elite tier of “elevated” events packed with the top superstars (think the bankable names like the current signatures but more formalized). These would be limited in number, held in big media markets as much as possible, to boost ratings, money, and “scarcity” so fans actually tune in.
• A secondary tier below that for the rest of the pros (the “jobbing golfers”). Still PGA Tour events with the official logo, but clearly a step down—better than Korn Ferry Tour, but not the main show. This keeps opportunities for non-elites while not diluting the product.
• The goal is a more merit-based setup: promote the hot performers, relegate the mediocre ones. Ditch stuff like protected status for veterans who can’t hack it anymore, tiny fields with no cuts, and sponsor exemptions into the big-money weeks. Make it easier for young/new talent to climb up.
• Anchor the business around the stars’ tier (higher ratings/money), while the secondary tier keeps the membership happy-ish but isn’t the foundation.
Why now? This week’s Cognizant Classic is a perfect example—weak field, low market rank (#39), tiny OWGR points compared to the recent big ones. Top guys can’t play 5 straight weeks, so events like this get left behind. The Tour needs weeks like this for members, but they hurt the overall business.
Announcement timing: Brian Rolapp (CEO) is supposed to lay out the proposals from the Future Competition Committee (chaired by Tiger Woods) at The Players next month. Then the real fights start—long process to implement, but expect drama.
Who gets pissed off?
• Regular players feeling squeezed or losing spots.
• Tournaments/sponsors/venues finding out they’re downgraded, replaced, or cut (pink slips incoming for some).
• Media partners told their deal through 2030 is outdated and they need to pay more for the “improved” but unproven product.
• Fans adjusting to a more concentrated calendar.
Stars? They probably skate with minimal concessions.
Thoughts? Is this the fix to make the Tour stronger post-Tiger era, or just gonna screw over the mid-tier guys and kill some classic stops? Sounds like Rolapp’s got some tough convos ahead.
7
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:21 pm to SPEEDY
Becoming more like LIV?
only a matter of time until they’re playing music & wearing shorts at PGA Events
only a matter of time until they’re playing music & wearing shorts at PGA Events
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:25 pm to SPEEDY
Money over Tradition will always destroy what you actually loved in the first place. Just give it time.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:30 pm to SPEEDY
We know what tier the Zurich will be in
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:31 pm to SwaggerCopter
Yup. Yet another pro sport I enjoy that will become watered down and worse than it was due to the lure of more TV and corporate money.
It will be packaged as something that is better for the fans but the reality is that it won’t be
It will be packaged as something that is better for the fans but the reality is that it won’t be
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:33 pm to JimTiger72
quote:
Becoming more like LIV?
only a matter of time until they’re playing music & wearing shorts at PGA Events
None of this sounds like LIV. If they can somehow make all the big tournaments merit based without sponsor exemptions, I would be impressed.
quote:
• The goal is a more merit-based setup: promote the hot performers, relegate the mediocre ones. Ditch stuff like protected status for veterans who can’t hack it anymore, tiny fields with no cuts, and sponsor exemptions into the big-money weeks. Make it easier for young/new talent to climb up.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:33 pm to chalmetteowl
NASCAR reached its peak in popularity the mid 2000s. Then it began to chase money and bigger venues and alienated it's fan base.
I hope that the PGA doesn't do the same.
I hope that the PGA doesn't do the same.
This post was edited on 2/25/26 at 3:35 pm
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:35 pm to SwaggerCopter
quote:
Money over Tradition will always destroy what you actually loved in the first place. Just give it time.
Technology is killing tradition in golf. Every year, more and more courses are not playable due to technology nullifying the course. Having said that, the traditional courses the fans know (Pebble, Riviera, Muirfield) are not going anywhere.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:36 pm to DestrehanTiger
quote:
Technology is killing tradition in golf. Every year, more and more courses are not playable due to technology nullifying the course.
You’re trying to say guys are hitting it further than they used to
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:38 pm to chalmetteowl
quote:
You’re trying to say guys are hitting it further than they used to
Yes. What is funny about that? All of the scoring records at these PGA Tour courses are being set in the last few years.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:39 pm to DestrehanTiger
quote:
None of this sounds like LIV.
This absolutely does
quote:
Create an elite tier of “elevated” events packed with the top superstars (think the bankable names like the current signatures but more formalized). These would be limited in number, held in big media markets as much as possible, to boost ratings, money, and “scarcity” so fans actually tune in.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:41 pm to JimTiger72
It’s at least lacking the goofy team names and MS Paint level branding though
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:42 pm to JimTiger72
quote:
This absolutely does
Jim, I'm not sure what you are getting at. You won't be able to sign a contract with the PGA Tour to get into these big events. You will have to earn it. Then, it sounds like they are trying to get rid of sponsor exemptions that allow stars that don't belong (Bubba, Kaymer, Westwood) to be in the events on name only.
This post was edited on 2/25/26 at 3:43 pm
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:46 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
It’s at least lacking the goofy team names
Like Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links GC, & Atlanta Drive GC? I’m sure that’s coming eventually
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:55 pm to JimTiger72
I love to play and watch golf. If the PGA has an event on during the weekend, I will watch some of it. It will be great to get the biggest stars together more often.
But it sounds like the PGA will have Signature events for the top tier and then a "minor league" for PGA card holders who are not in the top tier.
The "minor league" events will still need sponsors and those sponsors will not want to pay as much as before. The quality of the field and the viewership is going to be much less. And the attendance at these minor league events will be down as well.
I don't know what the answer is, but there are going to be several cities that have hosted PGA events for many years that will lose their tournament. New Orleans will probably be one of them.
But it sounds like the PGA will have Signature events for the top tier and then a "minor league" for PGA card holders who are not in the top tier.
The "minor league" events will still need sponsors and those sponsors will not want to pay as much as before. The quality of the field and the viewership is going to be much less. And the attendance at these minor league events will be down as well.
I don't know what the answer is, but there are going to be several cities that have hosted PGA events for many years that will lose their tournament. New Orleans will probably be one of them.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 4:00 pm to chalmetteowl
The Zurich had produced quality winners including 5 of the last 6 being on either the Ryder Cup or President Cup teams. They won't get rid of a team event but they move the date.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 4:11 pm to JimTiger72
TGL is also fricking idiotic, I’m not sure what your point is
Posted on 2/25/26 at 4:46 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
Yup. Yet another pro sport I enjoy that will become watered down and worse than it was due to the lure of more TV and corporate money.
That's already happened.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 5:58 pm to SPEEDY
The tier below top will be bad for the sport. TV will pay way less. Sponsors will bolt. That will turn off cities who usually pay for a lot of things and/or give incentives. Fans will never know who ip and comers are because second tier will be golf channel or some random streaming site that no one will pay for.
Then eventually as those 2nd tier “stars” get to big league none of the big league fans will have heard much of them.
People don’t realize how much money it costs to play a tourney. Hotels and other expenses. And if you miss cut you don’t get paid. I can’t see how making it a lower tiered game helps.
And the top tier, if they go to like 30 golfers, that means rounds are faster. City earns less money as does golf course if people are there less time since less golfers.
There are many other issues too. They need to move slowly on changes and make sure beforehand because it will be hard to go back if it fails.
Then eventually as those 2nd tier “stars” get to big league none of the big league fans will have heard much of them.
People don’t realize how much money it costs to play a tourney. Hotels and other expenses. And if you miss cut you don’t get paid. I can’t see how making it a lower tiered game helps.
And the top tier, if they go to like 30 golfers, that means rounds are faster. City earns less money as does golf course if people are there less time since less golfers.
There are many other issues too. They need to move slowly on changes and make sure beforehand because it will be hard to go back if it fails.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 6:05 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
TGL is also fricking idiotic, I’m not sure what your point is
It's a free check for the players and advertising for ESPN. It doesn't think much thinking there. It's actually gotten way better in season 2
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