Big markets, bigger crowds — the Tour’s new blueprint puts golf center stage in the nation’s largest cities.

The PGA Tour is preparing for a significant shift in its competitive schedule, according to a report from Front Office Sports — and the announcement is coming right after The Players Championship in March.

The Tour’s leadership is focused on two things:

• “starting the season big”
• “owning the summer”

CEO Brian Rolapp is shaping the strategy along with Tiger Woods, the Future Competition Committee chairman.

Lee Smith, executive director of The Players Championship, says fans should expect more details soon as the committee refines the PGA’s “future model.”

From the report:

“I think you’ll see a lot more of that that will come out, especially over the next month or two as that group continues to meet and they continue to focus on what that future model of the PGA Tour looks like,” Smith said.

Targeting Major Markets

A central piece of the plan appears to be placing more tournaments in the largest U.S. media markets, including:

• New York City
• Chicago
• Philadelphia
• Washington, D.C.
• Boston

Adding events in these cities would elevate visibility, boost attendance and strengthen corporate sponsorship opportunities. These markets bring built-in fan bases and major broadcast reach.

This would be a massive upgrade to the PGA Tour, its ratings, advertising revenue and its future.

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