22 top events after the Super Bowl, Canter back to LIV, Nicklaus firm bankrupt, DeChambeau dines with Trump. The Back Nine.
Speculation is swirling after the first meetings of the PGA Tour’s new Future Competition Committee, chaired by Tiger Woods and tasked with reforming the U.S. circuit. Harris English, who was set to face Victor Hovland in singles at the Ryder Cup before being sidelined by the Envelope Rule, shared some surprising insights ahead of the RSM Classic.
According to English, the PGA Tour could begin its season only after the Super Bowl starting in 2027. “We can’t compete with football,” he said, noting that the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl dominate media coverage in January and February. With new CEO Brian Rolapp coming from the NFL, the shift seems logical.
English elaborated: “They’re going to change a lot, maybe starting in 2027. All tournaments will be the same—no more Signature or regular events. There will be 20 or 22 events, all equal in points and prize money. All top players will play every event because you can’t afford to skip one.”
PGA Tour schedule overhaul
This change would affect early-season events like the Hawaii swing, The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, and the WM Phoenix Open, which coincides with Super Bowl weekend. The entire season structure would shift, forcing many prestigious tournaments to be rescheduled or reconsidered.
More from the Back Nine
Nelly Korda reflected on her winless season after finishing third at the CME Group Tour Championship, saying, “It was good, sometimes very good – and sometimes I had no idea what was going on.”
Laurie Canter, who earned a PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour, is reportedly returning to LIV Golf, where he previously played for Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC.
Jack Nicklaus’ company has filed for bankruptcy, reportedly owing $1 billion. A recent $50 million defamation judgment in favor of Nicklaus may have pushed the firm over the edge.
Si Woo Kim showed off his trick shot skills by making an ace from a rooftop, proving that every pro golfer has a bit of showman in them.
Bryson DeChambeau was spotted at a White House dinner hosted by Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, alongside Elon Musk and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Finally, Lorena Ochoa, the first woman to win a major on the Old Course at St. Andrews, has been named an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. And in a fun twist, a car with golf ball-like dimples reportedly improved fuel efficiency by 12.5%—proof that golf tech can have surprising applications.