PGA Tour 2019-20 Schedule Benefits Some While Others Not So Much

The PGA Tour announced their new schedule for 2019-2020. It makes for an interesting campaign as the events maneuver around the President’s Cup, the Olympics and Ryder Cup. Some tournaments benefited, while others took it in the shorts.

Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier profiles the haves and have nots.

Winners

Greenbrier (first of the fall campaign, Sanderson Farms (now a real bonafide Tour event, ZOZO (Tiger has already committed), Rocket Mortgage (moved prior to Memorial) and WGC FedEX St. Jude Classic (now given breathing room between the U.S. Open and British Open–rather than a week after The Open).

Losers

CIMB Classic (moves from TPC Kuala Lumpur to Japan), The Honda Classic…again (There are a ton of players that live down the road, but the marquee talent will likely play Genesis and WGC-Mexico, skip the Honda and play Bay Hill and the Players. Tough draw for the Honda (and also for the Valspar, the week after the Players).

3M Open. The once-annual Tour pilgrimage to TPC Twin Cities may stall out at one. Its 2020 position, dumped directly after the Open and before the Olympics, means no stars are going to be trekking from St. George’s to Minneapolis to Japan.

The major season is tightening up. The FedEx Cup Playoffs are cleaned up into a more efficient pre-football package, while summer is still rolling along. There’s proper space on either side of the majors. And there’s some geographic coherence to the entire thing. I don’t say this lightly, but props to the PGA Tour for that. Plus it’s an Olympic year! 

The Nelson and Colonial remain in their respective slots one week before and after the PGA Championship.

I still believe it’s better to shorten the regular season before the NFL/NCAA football kicks off. But sadly, some tournaments will always grab the short end due to either date or venue.