GOLF.AI • Dec 14, 2025

PGA Tour's 'Less is More' Revolution

The PGA Tour is on the verge of its most significant structural overhaul in decades, driven by a new philosophy that 'less is more.' Under the leadership of new CEO Brian Rolapp and a powerful, Tiger Woods-led competition committee, the Tour is orchestrating a top-down re-imagining of its product to combat fan burnout and neutralize the strategic threat posed by LIV Golf.

The seriousness of these plans was underscored at the Hero World Challenge, where Rolapp and Woods held a private, players-only meeting to lay out their vision. The goal is to create a condensed, higher-stakes season that would likely begin after the Super Bowl, featuring stronger fields and more compelling, must-watch events.

This strategic pivot, however, means tradition is on the chopping block. Historic and beloved 'West Coast Swing' tournaments are now in jeopardy. Events with deep roots, such as The American Express—famously known as the Bob Hope Classic—and the Farmers Insurance Open at the iconic Torrey Pines, face an uncertain future as the Tour pits its past against its future.

The ripple effects of this strategic shift are already being felt throughout the professional golf ecosystem. The pathway to the Tour is becoming more difficult, exemplified by the decision to reduce the number of PGA Tour cards awarded through the Korn Ferry Tour from 30 down to 20. This change is designed to create a more elite and cutthroat environment, ensuring only the very best advance.

Ultimately, this revolution is the PGA Tour's definitive answer to the challenges of the modern sports landscape. The decisions made in the coming months will define professional golf for the next generation, creating clear winners and losers among tournaments, host cities, and players, and determining if the Tour can successfully reinvent itself in the post-LIV era.