The 2025 PGA Tour Gets the Formula Right—And the Calendar to Match

After 35 years of following professional golf, I’ve learned that the tour’s health depends on three things: compelling competition, financial stability, and a schedule that actually makes sense. This January, when The Sentry kicks off in Maui, the PGA Tour will have finally achieved all three—at least on paper. Whether players and fans stick around for the full ride is the real test ahead.

A Schedule That Actually Flows

Let me be honest: I wasn’t sure about the January-to-August compressed schedule when it debuted last year. Having caddied for Tom Lehman in the ’90s and covered tours across three decades, I’d grown accustomed to the old calendar spread that started in October and pushed deep into September. It felt traditional, established, comfortable—which are three words that should never describe modern professional sports.

The new format works. What strikes me most is the clarity it provides.

“The 2025 PGA Tour season is set to feature 39 events in the second year of the Tour’s new format. The season will kick off with The Sentry hosted in Hawaii during the first week of January and there will be events every week until the FedExCup Playoffs planned for August.”

That’s a tight, digestible narrative arc. Fans know when the season starts and when it ends. Television networks can build their schedules accordingly. Sponsors—who ultimately drive everything in professional sports—can plan annual campaigns with precision.

From my vantage point covering 15 Masters and countless PGA Tour events, I can tell you that predictability is underrated. When fans know August means the Tour Championship and real playoff drama, they circle those dates. They plan their sports-watching calendar around it. That’s marketing gold that the tour didn’t have before.

Geography and Growth Beyond the American Golf Belt

What really catches my eye is the expanded international footprint.

“These events will be hosted across 18 US states, Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, retaining the January to August schedule re-introduced last season.”

This isn’t just logistics—it’s strategy.

In my experience, the tour’s greatest challenge has always been the perception that professional golf is a parochial American game. Spreading events from Maui to Royal Portrush to Vallarta signals something important: the PGA Tour sees itself as a global property competing for global eyeballs. That matters when you’re trying to recruit young talent from overseas and when you’re chasing television dollars from international broadcasters.

The Mexico Open, the Puerto Rico Open, and particularly The Open Championship at Royal Portrush—these aren’t afterthoughts. They’re statements. Sure, some traditionalists will grumble about moving away from the autumn swing that built the modern tour, but I think that’s backward thinking. Golf thrives when it expands its borders. We’ve seen it in the majors for decades.

The Signature Event Strategy Bears Watching

Now, let’s talk about what’s really happening beneath the surface. The signature events—those eight tournaments with guaranteed fields and larger purses—represent the tour’s pivot toward predictable, marquee programming. It’s a smart move, frankly. When you know The Players, the Genesis Invitational, and The Masters are coming up, you plan to watch.

But here’s where I’ll offer a cautious critique: the system only works if the quality of play remains exceptional. I’ve caddied in enough tournaments and covered enough seasons to know that scheduling excellence doesn’t guarantee competitive excellence. The tour needs its best players showing up at these signature events—not resting, not managing their calendars, not banking points and playing it safe.

The addition of the Truist Championship in Charlotte shows corporate America still believes in this product. That partnership signals confidence in the tour’s direction, which matters for long-term sustainability.

The Major Championships: A Balanced Calendar

The major championship schedule deserves its own analysis. Having The Masters on April 10-13, the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, the U.S. Open in June at Oakmont, and The Open in July at Royal Portrush creates elegant spacing. Each major gets its moment. Each has different conditions and different narratives.

What strikes me most is Royal Portrush hosting The Open in 2025. Northern Ireland has deep golf roots, and bringing The Open Championship to Portrush elevates the sport’s global profile in ways that matter. I remember when the British Open felt almost regional compared to American majors. Those days are long gone, and the schedule reflects that evolution.

The Real Test Begins in January

Here’s what I’m watching as we head into 2025: player buy-in. The schedule is solid. The venues are excellent. The sponsorship is in place. But professional golf ultimately lives or dies by whether Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and the next generation of stars treat these events with the urgency they deserve.

In my three decades covering this game, I’ve learned that good schedules can fail if players don’t invest emotionally. Conversely, mediocre schedules become must-watch television when the competition is fierce and the stakes feel real.

The 2025 PGA Tour has given itself every opportunity to succeed. The calendar works. The geography is smart. The venues are world-class. Now we’ll see if the players match the ambition.