MCKINNEY, Texas – Tradition versus tiers came into sharper focus before the start of the CJ Byron Nelson Cup, which took place under cloudy skies on Thursday at Newly renovated TPC Craig Ranch.
of Sports Business Journal reported On Tuesday, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp met with players at the Truist Championship two weeks ago and explained more details of the potential for a two-course system. The main circuit will include 23 seeded events (including majors and playoffs) with 120-player fields in regular-season tournaments; the second track would have 20 tournaments and fields of 140 players.
Rolapp again met with several dozen players at TPC Craig Ranch on Tuesday to go over his plan and answer questions.
“There were a lot of issues to talk about, but they definitely have an idea of ​​what they want to do with the category,” Eric Cole said. “If they go to 120 players, it will affect the level of players here. There are certainly more people than you have now in certain events.”
There is still much to be resolved; and some events are curious as to what their future may hold.
“I would have thought this would be a lower-level tournament,” said tour veteran Joel Dahmen as he practiced on the green. “It’s just a tough time on the schedule for a lot of people. They have to be willing to change the date on the schedule to have a better field.”
Indeed, this week’s tournament — named for one of golf’s all-time legends — falls the week after the PGA Championship and lacks star power.
Dallas native and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is in the field, but the world No. 1 is the only player in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking to make it. Scheffler and Si Woo Kim are the only players in the top 20 of the FedEx Cup rankings. There are only three players — Dallas’ Jordan Spieth is third — in the world’s top 50 this week.
“I have very strong feelings about this tournament and I hope nothing but the best for it,” Scheffler said Wednesday. “But like I said, a lot of those decisions (about his future) are out of my hands. If the tournament wants my opinion, I have nothing but great things to say about the event.”
CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament director Jon Drago said he did not attend Tuesday’s Rolapp session, but he has previously said he would be willing to move the tournament date if necessary (a date for next year’s event has yet to be announced). Another interesting scheduling problem is that next year’s PGA Championship is already set for May 20-23 at PGA Frisco East, just 15 miles west of TPC Craig Ranch.
The tour has yet to announce some of the 2027 Florida tour dates, meaning Byron Nelson and next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial could be held anywhere from March to May.
“This tournament could be in trouble,” said Tony Finau, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting. “You just have to see what can happen and what the Tour is thinking.”
