Parity Meets Purpose: Why This Year’s Signature Events Tell a More Interesting Story

Scottie Scheffler is going 7-under through seven holes on a Sunday at Pebble Beach, chasing down Akshay Bhatia’s 54-hole lead, and here’s what strikes me after 35 years covering this tour: nobody’s really surprised anymore. That’s not a knock on Scottie—the kid is exceptional—but it’s actually a sign that something genuinely healthy is happening in professional golf.

Let me explain what I’m seeing here at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, because the real story isn’t just about one player making a charge on Sunday.

The Parity Pendulum Has Swung Back

Last season was the “Scottie Show.” The guy won half of the PGA Tour’s signature events. As someone who caddied for Tom Lehman back when the purses were a fraction of what they are today, I can tell you: when one player dominates like that, it’s spectacular for highlight reels but it makes for predictable television. We all knew who was likely to win most weeks.

Then 2025 happened, and “all eight were won by different players.” Let that sink in for a moment. Eight signature events. Eight different winners. That included Rory McIlroy capturing Pebble Beach, The Players, and his first Masters jacket—a spring run that honestly competes with anything I’ve covered in three decades. But here’s the kicker: it also meant wins were distributed across the tour in a way we haven’t seen in years.

Now we’re into 2026, and the pattern seems to be continuing. Bhatia, hardly a household name compared to the usual suspects, held a 54-hole lead at one of golf’s most storied venues. McIlroy, the defending champion here, made his season debut and isn’t in contention. Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning FedEx Cup winner, is also playing his first event and similarly off the radar.

In my experience, this is what genuine parity looks like. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. And frankly, it’s more compelling than watching the same three names atop every leaderboard.

Money Matters—A Lot More Now

Let’s talk about why this matters beyond just “oh, different guys are winning.” The signature event structure changed the economics of professional golf in a way that’s become the story nobody fully appreciates.

“The stakes are elevated when a signature event falls on the calendar, which means the payouts are raised, too. Not only will $3.6 million of the $20 million purse be awarded to the winner, every player inside the top 10 will clear $500,000 and those inside the top 20 will each earn north of $250,000.”

When I was caddying in the ’90s, finishing 15th at a major tournament meant you’d clear maybe $50,000 if you were lucky. Today? You’re looking at $352,000 just for showing up and playing competent golf. That fundamentally changes the field composition and motivation. You get more international players willing to travel. You get younger players taking calculated risks instead of playing it safe. You get the depth of field we’re seeing right now at Pebble Beach.

The Prize Money Breakdown: What It Reveals

What I notice here is the aggressiveness of the top-end purse distribution. That second-place check of $2.16 million isn’t some consolation prize—it’s real money that makes tournaments worth playing. When you have that kind of financial incentive structure, you attract better players week-in and week-out, and better fields produce better golf and unpredictable outcomes.

The Depth Question

Having 80 players competing for a $20 million purse, with even 80th place earning $32,000, might seem like it dilutes the field. In reality, it does the opposite. These aren’t guys scrapping to make cuts anymore—they’re professionals calibrated to compete. Yes, you’ll have varying skill levels, but you also have fewer blow-your-tournament-up scenarios because the financial stability allows for steadier play throughout the field.

I’ve covered 15 Masters Tournaments, and I can tell you that field depth matters more than people realize. You don’t get the real stories—the sleeper contenders, the third-round charges, the Sunday dramas—without competitive depth.

So What Does Sunday Actually Mean?

Scheffler making his 7-under run through seven holes is precisely what should happen in this environment. He’s a generational talent, yes. But he’s not a lock anymore. That’s the beauty of where the tour is right now. Winners emerge from quality at-bats against quality opposition, not from a coronation process.

Rory’s reigning from last year’s Pebble Beach win, Bhatia’s sitting pretty after 54 holes, and the entire field knows that $3.6 million is up for grabs if they can piece together four good rounds. That’s genuine sport. That’s why people tune in on Sunday.

The signature events were designed to matter more, and they do. But the real win isn’t just the money or the prestige—it’s that the tour finally has a format that lets the best 80 players in the world compete without a predetermined script.