The 2025 PGA Tour season is approaching its conclusion, yet eyes are already on the 2026 calendar. Recently, the PGA Tour disclosed their lineup for 2026, and Rory McIlroy took the opportunity to address how the tournaments are structured, especially with the inclusion of an additional signature event.
The added Miami Championship comes during a packed schedule that encompasses two major championships and three signature events within a six-week timeframe. This year’s revised lineup now includes nine high-stakes, limited field competitions, contrasting with the eight seen in the previous two years.
“I think it’s all positive… golf builds through the January, February, March months, and obviously golf gets a huge popularity spike or whatever through Augusta; and then to try to keep that momentum going through the next few weeks, through the PGA, U.S. Open, I think it’s a good thing,” McIlroy stated before the Tour Championship. “It’s quite a bit of a workload for the players to play that much golf in that stretch, but I think it’s not as if we’re having to travel halfway around the world to do it.”
Translation: “It’s great for golf’s popularity to keep the momentum from January through April.”
McIlroy has indicated his willingness to miss high-paying signature events to prioritize a schedule that works best for him personally. He abstained from competitions such as the RBC Heritage following his Masters victory and the Memorial Tournament before the U.S. Open. He expressed, “I will always examine the schedule at the beginning of the year and determine what aligns best with my life and other pursuits outside of golf.”
The new implementations have presented challenges for players not qualified for signature events from the start of the season, especially for those finishing outside of the top 50. McIlroy suggested several players in similar situations earlier in the year have showcased how to break through into these noteworthy events through impressive performances.
“I would look at someone like Jacob Bridgeman or Andrew Novak… who were in a parallel position and managed to earn spots in signature events with strong play and find opportunities to achieve great results.”
Translation: “Players like Bridgeman and Novak have excelled under similar pressures.”
