Harris English reveals PGA Tour could scrap Signature Events model and start season after NFL

Harris English has lifted the lid on major structural changes he believes are being discussed inside the PGA Tour, claiming the Signature Events model could be scrapped entirely in favour of a streamlined schedule of 20–22 equal-status tournaments by 2027.

The 36-year-old, competing on home turf this week at the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia, says fresh rumours have been circulating since the arrival of new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp — and they point to some of the most dramatic changes in more than a decade.

English reveals shock changes being discussed on PGA Tour

One of the most striking ideas? 

Moving the PGA Tour season to begin after the NFL’s Super Bowl.

"The talk of the [PGA] Tour potentially starting after the Super Bowl I think is a pretty good thing because we can't really compete with football," said English, who starts a 22/1 tournament favourite for the RSM Classic. 

Given Rolapp’s background as an NFL executive, English believes he understands better than anyone how the Super Bowl and the playoffs consume the sports-news landscape. 

A February start would, however, threaten the traditional early-season run through Hawaii and Torrey Pines — a stretch of events that English has strong ties to.

English, a former winner of The Sentry at Kapalua, described Waialae — home of the Sony Open — as "awesome" and is set to defend at Torrey Pines next season. 

The possibility of losing those tournaments under Rolapp’s "scarcity" model raised an immediate emotional reaction.

"Yeah, I wouldn't like that at all," said five-time PGA Tour winner English, ranked World No.11. 

"It would kind of stink if those tournaments go away and it would change up that West Coast Swing."

English made his second Ryder Cup appearance in New York in September, and having joined the PGA Tour in 2012, he says he’s become accustomed to regular upheaval.

But he also hinted that Rolapp’s incoming changes may be far more sweeping than anything seen in the past decade.

The Signature Event model, which began on the PGA Tour in 2024, could get scrapped. 

PGA Tour could scrap Signature Events and make all events equal

"It's going to keep evolving," added English.

"We've got some smart guys at the helm. Now with Brian Rolapp coming in, he's seeing the PGA Tour in a different light. 

"Sometimes change is good. I get that they want all the best players playing together more often, and I think that's what they're going to change down the road maybe in 2027 is have all the tournaments be equal and not have the eight elevated events and the regular events. They'll have 20, 22 events that are all the same. 

"I think that's a good model to have. That's where you'll see all the top players play every single event because you can't really afford to take one off."

If such a unified schedule becomes reality, English expects life to get tougher for those trying to secure their PGA Tour futures — even for players of his experience.

English said: "I know it's going to get harder for me. I'm 36 years old, I'm not getting any younger, but we'll see where it goes. Everybody's in for the good of the PGA Tour and to make our product the best it can be. Whatever that takes is what it takes."

Despite acknowledging he hasn’t spent a ton of time contemplating where the Tour is heading, English hopes long-standing tournaments — including this week’s RSM Classic — remain part of the new landscape.

"I'm putting my faith in the guys at the helm and having the direction of this tour to make it the best it can be," continued English. 

"Tournaments like this, I don't want to see them go away because I know how much they mean to this community. 

"A lot of these fall events, we go to a lot of places in the country that they don't get a whole lot of golf tournaments and you can tap into a different fan base. I don't really want to see them go away, but I think they'll find a time and a place for some of those."

This week’s RSM Classic marks a critical moment for dozens of players trying to secure their place inside the top 100 of the final FedEx Cup Fall standings — and with it, full PGA Tour cards for 2026. 

Those who fall short (unless otherwise exempt) will drop to the Korn Ferry Tour.

But if English’s insights prove accurate, securing status for next season may only be the beginning. 

Rolapp’s blueprint for significant change — from the calendar to the competitive structure — appears to be just getting started.