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PGA Tour's Hawaii Swing Faces Uncertain Future
10 Jan
Summary
- Hawaii's PGA Tour events may be eliminated from the schedule.
- Tour considers shifting season start to after the Super Bowl.
- Logistical challenges and production costs impact Hawaii events.
The PGA Tour's traditional Hawaiian swing, including the season-opening Sony Open, is facing potential elimination as the tour contemplates a significant schedule overhaul. This potential change, aimed for as early as the 2027 season, could see the end of events held in Hawaii due to logistical challenges and high production costs. New leadership is exploring a radical reimagining of the tour's calendar.
The proposed changes, driven by CEO Brian Rolapp and Strategic Sports Group, include shifting the season's start to after the Super Bowl and reducing the number of elite events. Second-level tournaments might be consolidated into an expanded Korn Ferry Tour schedule or a subsidiary tier, impacting events like the FedEx Fall slate. Both Kapalua and Waialae could be removed entirely.
Tiger Woods, chair of the Future Competition Committee, has reportedly met with top players to present a vision for a more streamlined schedule. The guiding principles are parity, scarcity, and simplicity, with discussions around a 20-25 event schedule focusing on major markets and premier courses. Ideas like a relegation system have also been presented.
