The PGA Tour’s Signature Events are a series of eight elevated tournaments that feature smaller fields, huge prize money and, in some cases, no cuts.
They were brought in to reward the PGA Tour’s best players and give fans the chance to watch all of the circuit’s best players compete in the same fields more regularly.
But are they merely a rich-get-richer scheme or do they add genuine value to the tour and for viewing fans?
Two Golf Monthly writers have their say…
Fergus Bisset
A golf-obsessive who studied at St Andrews and is a member at Banchory in Aberdeenshire.
It’s been a challenging few years for men’s professional golf with LIV entering the fray and poaching a number of the leading circuits’ top players. To counter the threat, the PGA Tour has had to make changes to remain competitive and appeal to the world’s best golfers. The signature event schedule is one of the ways the US circuit has done this, and to great effect.
Signature events are important for the future if men’s professional golf is to remain how we know and love it. To keep as many of the best players in the fold, playing against one another week in, week out at the best venues in the elite game, the PGA Tour has had to shake things up and hand out more in prize money.
The signature events for 2024 ran from The Sentry tournament in January through to the Travelers Championship in June. There have been eight tournaments, including iconic events like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the RBC Heritage and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
These great tournaments have been elevated by their increased status as signature events. As a result of the bump-up, they have attracted stronger fields, produced more excitement for fans and delivered great winners. The list of 2024 champions reads like a who’s who of current top-level men’s golf – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark (all Major winners) have tasted glory in them this year.
PGA Tour signature events are a great addition to the world’s premier golf circuit. Their establishment will help secure the future of both the tour and the men’s professional game.
Jezz Ellwood
A 22-year Golf Monthly veteran who plays as an artisan at Royal Ashdown Forest in Sussex.
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