In modern golf, there are two schedules, a PGA Tour A and a PGA Tour B schedule. This is evident when looking at where the top 30 players who qualified for the Tour Championship by finishing in the top 30 on the FedEx Cup standings teed it up this season. There has always been certain tournaments that attract the best fields, but it has never been more pronounced than in the era of signature events. These signature events feature eight limited-field tournaments with large purses, inflated FedEx Cup points, and no cuts.
Former Wells Fargo Championship tournament director Kym Hougham compared how players fill their schedule to college. He mentioned that there used to be four requirements, the majors, and the rest were electives. Now, with eight signature events, the Players, and three playoff events, players have 16 requirements. The remaining four or five spots are the electives for the players to choose from. Viktor Hovland, for example, only played one non-major or signature event this season, the Genesis Scottish Open. He mentioned that he might play more regular events next season if he feels confident in his game.
There are various reasons why players may choose to skip tournaments, ranging from personal reasons like births or deaths to sponsorship commitments. Some players added starts to enhance their chances of making certain events, like the Olympics or a major, or to help their FedEx Cup chances. The cadence of the schedule also played a role in limiting the number of times players competed outside of the biggest tournaments. Justin Thomas, for example, only played majors and signature events after March.
Players who competed in the most regular events were typically not in the signature events to start the season. Billy Horschel, for example, needed to play 13 regular tournaments to make his way back to East Lake. Others like Matthieu Pavon and Robert MacIntyre earned cards for finishing in the DP World top 10. MacIntyre played 17 regular events, the second most of any player to make the FedEx Cup finale. However, Aaron Rai, who also made the FedEx Cup finale, missed all the signature events.
Based on the data of having signature events for one year, it seems that the top players are taking fewer elective events than ever before, making it challenging to be a regular tournament these days. The schedule has evolved in a way that players prioritize the signature events and majors, leaving fewer spots for other tournaments. This trend may continue to impact how players approach their schedules in the future.
