By ED TRAVIS
The most remarkable thing about the 2025 PGA Tour schedule is not that it is essentially the same as this year’s but there is no accommodation for LIV Golf.
When Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced it before start of play at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he stressed the year-to-year continuity. Questioned about a deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund backed rival circuit he said one had not been struck, nor did it seem likely in the near future.
Monahan said, “As it relates to times and timeframes and where we are, I’ll just say we’re in a good place with the conversations. That’s the most important thing.” The Commissioner also indicated no deal was possible until after the 2026 season.
Unfortunately, that’s not the most important thing; putting professional golf on a stable long-term basis and removing the uncertainty for fans is.
Also to be resolved are the possibility of more PGAT members following Jon Rahm and others signing with LIV and how the $3 billion investment in the PGAT by the Strategic Sports Group affect negotiations with PIF/LIV.
In the more than 14 months since the announcement of the PIF/LIV talks and the dropping of lawsuits between the two nothing substantial has happened.
If the PGAT has a long-term strategy it is not apparent.
Round One of Playoffs
The FedExCup has is a season long points accumulation ending with three playoff events. The final is the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club outside Atlanta on Sept. 1, just in time to prevent competing with the NFL for the attention of fans and sports media.
The first round was the 70-players FedEx St. Jude Championship won by Hideki Matsuyama yesterday paring the field to 50 players who now move on to the BMW Championship, the result will be the top 30 players in points going to East Lake. It’s even likely to have a winner of the East Lake event and someone else take the overall year points total.
Scottie Scheffler, who is leading in FedEx Cup points and ranked world number one, calls the whole process “silly.” Cumbersome is another apt word to describe this quadruple tiered format which fans often find confusing.
Another wrinkle is the first six slots on the Presidents Cup team are based on FedEx Cup point standings after the BMW Championship with the final six places filled by the team captain after the Tour Championship. The Presidents Cup this year is at Royal Montreal GC Sept. 26-29.
It’s a wonder golf fans, much less the media can stay awake.
Short Putts
Aaron Rai won the final regular season event, the Wyndham Championship, with a five-year-old TaylorMade M6 driver. Makes you wonder about all the hype over the latest and greatest.
The 2025 PGA Tour schedule reflected Jack Nicklaus’ complaint by the putting his Memorial Tournament back to two weeks before U.S. Open as it had been. The Golden Bear had accommodated the Tour in 2024 by moving it to the week before our national championship but pointed out during his career to properly prepare he seldom played the week before a major. The Bear roared and the Tour listened.
Sharpe-eyed fans at the FedEx St. Jude Championship especially those from other parts of the country watching on television noted the “Hush Y’all” paddles not the usual “Quiet Please” seen at other Tour stops. The paddles are uniquely Memphis and on sale as souvenirs in the tournament merchandise tent.
