PGA Tour reshapes 2027 calendar with new opener and Pebble Beach double-header

The PGA Tour has released its schedule for the 2027 season, marking a notable departure from recent years with the removal of Hawaii as a designated stop. Following the cancellation of the annual Kapalua event in 2026, the tour has confirmed that the Sony Open, a fixture on the calendar since 1965, will transition to the PGA Tour Champions. This move effectively ends the tour’s regular presence in the state, a change that will be immediately apparent to players and fans alike.

The American Express will serve as the new season opener, scheduled for 21 to 24 January. This event will initiate the West Coast Swing, which includes two signature events before the tour moves to Florida. The shift aims to provide a structured start to the playing calendar while maintaining the competitive intensity of the early season.

In Florida, the Cadillac Championship has been moved to early March, swapping its position with the Valspar Championship. The Valspar Championship will now operate as a full-field, regular tournament. This adjustment is designed to offer players who are not qualified for the signature events a competitive opportunity between the Masters and the PGA Championship, while also providing a scheduling break for those competing in the higher-profile tournaments.

The 2027 season will feature two separate stops at Pebble Beach in California, held four months apart. The first of these events will be the U.S. Open in June. This will be followed by the 155th Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews in July, creating a back-to-back major championship sequence that highlights the global reach of the tour’s calendar.

Towards the end of the regular season, a new event, the Sompo Championship, will be held in Napa. This tournament will serve as the penultimate event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The introduction of this new championship adds a fresh venue to the tour’s portfolio and provides a concluding event for the regular season.

Looking ahead, the PGA Tour has also announced a new two-week Tour Championship format for 2028. This future iteration will feature match play across round-robin groups, narrowing 32 contenders to a 16-man bracket to crown the Tour Champion. While this change is a year away, it signals a continued evolution in the tour’s competitive structure.