PGA Tour Signature Occasions have been a pertinent matter lately, given that every one 50 gamers who qualify for this week’s BMW Championship additionally achieve entry into every Signature Occasion subsequent season.
These eight tournaments characteristic restricted fields and elevated purses. Further FedEx Cup factors are additionally accessible. However they serve an excellent better goal: to make sure that all the highest gamers on the PGA Tour compete side-by-side at a few of the most iconic, non-major venues, comparable to Riviera, Bay Hill, and Muirfield Village. The rise of LIV Golf led the tour to determine its Signature Occasion mannequin one yr in the past, hoping to maintain its gamers blissful whereas creating a greater product for on-site followers and people watching from residence. It debuted in the course of the 2024 season, which ends subsequent week in Atlanta on the Tour Championship.
Therefore, a reporter requested Patrick Cantlay, who serves on the PGA Tour Coverage Board, to replicate on these Signature Occasions forward of the BMW Championship.
“I really feel like they’ve gone very well,” Cantlay stated.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the blokes, they usually really feel just like the occasions are a few of the finest they’ve performed of their time on the PGA Tour. I really feel just like the sponsors have been proud of it. The golf programs have been in nice form. I feel they’ve gone very well.”
Cantlay additionally gave the Signature Occasions an “A” grade. Nevertheless, there may be at all times room for enchancment, and the PGA Tour has already established two changes for Signature Occasions in 2025.
First, the sphere dimension will develop from 70 to 72 gamers, permitting a few extra gamers to achieve entry into the largest occasions of the season. Some tournaments will make the most of alternate lists to find out these fields, too. These shall be predicated on the Aon Subsequent 10, which helps decide who performs in every Signature Occasion primarily based on who has performed nicely as much as that time. The opposite adjustment includes Tiger Woods, who can play in no matter Signature Occasion he needs.
But, Cantlay and the board will proceed to investigate its construction as time passes.
“I feel it’s one thing we should always at all times be taking a look at,” Cantlay added.
“However I feel it’s a must to give it a while. We made some important adjustments within the final yr or two, so analyzing this yr as a result of it has been a big change and seeing what the results are. I do know we’re doing that on the [Player Advisory Council] and board degree.”
The eight Signature Occasions for subsequent yr will stay the identical as this yr’s, with the primary being The Sentry at Kapalua in early January.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
