Harris English dropped a bombshell towards the end of last year, revealing that the PGA Tour planned to change its schedule in 2027.
These potential changes would see the PGA Tour season begin after the Super Bowl, which is over a month after the current start date. There would also be a significant decrease in the number of events played over a season. The number the tour has in mind is 20.
All of these events would be equal, meaning the current Signature Events system, which sees selected tournaments elevated above the rest in terms of prize money and qualification criteria, would be scrapped.
This puts some iconic PGA Tour venues at serious risk of being chopped, especially on the West Coast. The West Coast Swing has been the traditional start point of the PGA Tour season for decades, but will it be moving forward?
English is determined to keep one course in particular on the schedule for 2027 and beyond.
Harris English will ‘do anything’ to keep Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour
English is the reigning champion at Torrey Pines after winning the Farmers Insurance Open in 2025. It’s an iconic venue on the PGA Tour, and one that he is determined to keep on the schedule, no matter the tour’s plans.
He said, “I would hate for it to go away. This is one of the cornerstone events on the PGA Tour. I’ll do anything as a PGA Tour member, a past champion, to help find a sponsor to help keep this tournament here at Torrey Pines because you have a lot of guys that feel the same way I do that love this place.
“Such an iconic place here at Torrey. Farmers has done an unbelievable job running this event and putting on this event for I don’t know how many years they’ve been on board but a long time. It would be a shame for us to lose this event. I’ll do anything in my power to help keep it here.”
Why Torrey Pines is likely to remain on the PGA Tour schedule
English might not have to fight too hard to keep Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour. According to reports, the course might have found a new sponsor to move forward with.
Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal reported that Sentry, which has sponsored the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, is a likely partner for the course. But it’s unlikely to remain at the front end of the PGA Tour schedule.
Instead, Carpenter said that the course is likely to return to the playoff section of the schedule, which currently features East Lake for the Tour Championship, TPC Southwind for the St. Jude Championship, and Caves Valley Golf Club for the BMW Championship.
Either the playoff will be extended, or one of these courses will make way. As one of the most challenging courses on the PGA Tour, Torrey Pines would make a fitting playoff venue.
