The new PGA Tour schedule is bound to make many of the current events on the tour nervous.
When CEO Brian Rolapp unveiled his plans to revamp the PGA Tour schedule, fans were largely happy with the changes. There will be promotion and relegation between two tiers, matchplay at the Tour Championship, and iconic golf courses coming to the tour.
But a host of current events should be concerned about their future. Rolapp plans to shave down the PGA Tour schedule to just over 20 events, increasing the importance of each one to encourage players to play more often.
This is great news for fans, as every single tournament will feel far bigger than it does now. However, the less prestigious events are now wondering if they have a future on the PGA Tour. How do they feel about these changes?
Zurich Classic tournament director issues statement
The Zurich Classic is exactly the type of event that should be concerned for its future as a PGA Tour venue. ‘It’s a lower-scale event, and while it brings a unique feature of team golf, it’s not at the top of anyone’s list of favourite PGA Tour stops.
And after Rolapp’s press conference, which unveiled his new schedule, the tournament director of the Zurich Classic, Steve Worthy, issued the following statement:
“We obviously watched the Tour press conference, and the structure going forward was in line with what we’ve been told. We have a great title sponsor in Zurich, and we have been in conversations exploring all our options.
What do you make of the planned changes to the PGA Tour?
What do you like? What concerns you about the changes?
“We are proud of the success we’ve had with our event, and we expect to match or exceed last year’s $3,600.0000 in contributions to children’s charities. We have dedicated Fore!Kids Foundation members and volunteers, who have driven those record charitable dollars, a great fan base, and our team competition includes a great list of champions.
“Our record is strong, and we are working hard with Zurich and the PGA Tour to be positioned in the best place possible for our future.”
Zurich Classic statement is a plea to the PGA Tour
This seems like a statement for the PGA Tour above everyone else. It comes across as a plea for survival.
The statement goes out of its way to mention the work the event does for children’s charities, something the event clearly wants out in the public in case Rolapp plans to scrap the event, or put it on the second track.
It also talks up its elite former champions, which includes the Fitzpatrick brothers this year, and the popularity of the event.
It’s a message to Rolapp and the PGA Tour that this event deserves its place on the first track alongside all the other best events on the tour.
It won’t work. Rolapp said he wanted to produce 20 events, each as big as The Players Championship. The Zurich Classic isn’t capable of producing that same feel.
The event must either prepare to host events on the second track or cut ties with the PGA Tour.
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