two-track system – Before the CJ Cup Byron Nelson teed off in Texas, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp’s two-track idea has players debating what it could mean for tournaments that might drop into a lower tier—or be squeezed by schedule changes.
Clouds hung over TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday, and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson started under a sky that looked like it couldn’t decide what kind of golf week it wanted to be.
Inside the clubhouse, though, the uncertainty felt clearer than the weather.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp met with players at the Truist Championship two weeks earlier. laying out more details of a potential two-track system. In that plan. the top track would feature 23 elevated events—including the majors and the playoffs—played with 120-player fields at regular-season tournaments. A second track would include 20 tournaments with 140-man fields.
Rolapp met again on Tuesday with a few dozen players at TPC Craig Ranch to walk through the proposal and answer questions.
Eric Cole described the meeting as a lot of talking points—but also said the numbers carry a practical hit for designated events. “It was a lot of talking points. but they definitely have an idea with what they want to do with the tier. ” he said. “If they go to 120 players, that’s going to eat into the level of players here. It’s certainly more people than you have now in the designated events.”.
For some, the bigger worry isn’t just the field size. It’s what that field size could do to the competitive rhythm of tournaments that may not land in the top category.
Joel Dahmen. a veteran on Tour practicing on the putting green. said he expects the CJ Cup Byron Nelson could end up in a lower-tier spot. “I would think this would be a lower-tier tournament,” he said. “It’s just a tough time of the schedule for a lot of people. They would have to be willing to change the date in the schedule to get a better field.”.
The timing Dahmen referenced is hard to miss. This week’s tournament—named for one of golf’s all-time legends—arrives the week after the PGA Championship and has drawn limited star power.
Dallas native and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is in the field. but he is the only player in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking teeing it up. Scheffler and Si Woo Kim are also the only players in the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings. In the world top 50 this week. there are only three players: Jordan Spieth. who is from Dallas. and two others in that narrow group.
Scheffler. asked about the tournament’s future. said he carries “a lot of strong feelings” for it while also acknowledging the limits of his influence. “I have a lot of strong feelings for this tournament. and I hope nothing but the best for it. ” he said Wednesday. “But like I said, a lot of those decisions [about its future] aren’t in my hands. If the Tour wants my opinion, I have nothing but great things to say about this event.”.
Tournament director Jon Drago said he did not attend Rolapp’s Tuesday session, but he has previously indicated he would be willing to move the tournament date if needed. A date for next year’s event has yet to be announced.
The schedule uncertainty isn’t confined to one week or one tournament.
Next year’s PGA Championship is already set for May 20-23 at PGA Frisco East. just 15 miles west of TPC Craig Ranch. And the Tour has not yet announced some of the 2027 Florida tournament dates. leaving the possibility that the Byron Nelson and next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial could be played anywhere from March to May.
That range is what makes players uneasy, even if they’re still competing inside the ropes.
Tony Finau, who did not attend the Tuesday meeting, put it plainly: “This tournament could be in some trouble,” he said. “You just have to see what could happen and what the Tour is thinking.”
At TPC Craig Ranch this week, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson is already fighting the math of its position on the calendar—right after the PGA Championship, with fewer top-ranked players showing up than most fans would expect.
Rolapp’s two-track plan may be aimed at shaping the Tour’s structure. but the questions it triggers feel personal to the places trying to defend their place in the spotlight: whether the tournament’s tier. its field. and even its date will be treated as negotiable—before the first tee shot of next year.
PGA Tour Brian Rolapp two-track system tier system CJ Cup Byron Nelson TPC Craig Ranch Scottie Scheffler Joel Dahmen Eric Cole Jon Drago Tony Finau Charles Schwab Challenge PGA Championship PGA Frisco East FedEx Cup Official World Golf Ranking
So basically more players means less quality? Weird.
I’m confused why they need two tracks at all. Like if fans can’t tell the difference, what’s the point? Sounds like events are gonna get squeezed and everybody’s just pretending it’s fine.
120 players eating into designated events?? That seems backwards to me. I thought designated meant they were “important” so how does adding more guys make it worse. Also did the article say 140 man fields on the second tier? That feels like they’re just trying to pump up attendance numbers without saying it.
Weather was bad AND the tour is doing tier math now, love it. Not sure why any tournament would drop to the lower tier unless the sponsors get mad or something. But I heard “two-track” and thought they’d split players like A and B divisions or something, so maybe I’m off. Either way it sounds like the players are getting talked at and nobody wants their event to be downgraded, which is understandable.