The PGA Tour is planning to reinstate a tournament at Trump National Doral in Miami for the week of April 27 to May 3, 2026, marking its return to the venue after almost ten years. This move signals the PGA Tour returns to Trump Doral following a nearly decade-long hiatus, renewing its connection with the iconic Florida course.
Details About the New Tournament and Scheduling Impact
Industry sources indicate the new event could be designated as a Signature tournament, though the official title sponsor and operational details remain unconfirmed. The scheduled week places it between the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Truist Championship, which is itself a Signature event, with the PGA Championship following the next week.
This addition at Doral will also cause the CJ Cup Byron Nelson to shift later in May, creating consecutive weeks for the Dallas-area tournaments by pairing it with the Charles Schwab Challenge. This arrangement will be the first time since 2018 that these two Dallas events are held back-to-back.
Historical Context: Why the Tour Left and LIV Golf’s Role
The PGA Tour discontinued its long-standing event at Trump Doral in 2017 after 54 years, citing issues including difficulties with sponsorship. During the subsequent years, LIV Golf held its event at Trump National Doral annually for its first four seasons. However, with the course omitted from LIV Golf’s 2026 schedule, the PGA Tour is poised to reclaim its spot there.
This transition may also reflect an easing in tensions, as the PGA Tour’s return contrasts with President Trump’s earlier support for LIV Golf, which has positioned itself as a rival to the PGA Tour amid ongoing disputes and negotiations involving the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Overview of Other Schedule Changes for the 2026 PGA Tour Season
The PGA Tour’s 2026 season will begin on January 8 at The Sentry, a six-day delay from the 2025 start to avoid New Year’s Day commencement. The season will proceed similarly to 2025 through the Farmers Insurance Open, which will conclude on a Sunday, allowing it to follow the NFL’s conference championships rather than overlap with them, as it has in recent years.
Significant schedule adjustments include the WM Phoenix Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am swapping calendar spots. Phoenix will now follow the Farmers Insurance Open and be paired with the Genesis Invitational near Los Angeles in back-to-back Signature events. This contrasts with prior seasons where the tour moved from Genesis to the Mexico Open and then the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches; next year, the tour plans a direct transition from Genesis to the Palm Beach event.
Additional Tournament Shifts and Developments
The Corales Puntacana Championship is moving from its current timing opposite the RBC Heritage in the week after The Masters to the week opposite the Open Championship in July. This change aligns with the Barracuda Championship’s search for a new title sponsor and expected date realignment.
Later in the summer, the Rocket Mortgage Classic will shift from late June to July 30 through August 2, two weeks after the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The Wyndham Championship is set to remain as the last regular-season event before the FedExCup Playoffs.
Implications of the Tour’s Return to Trump Doral
The PGA Tour’s decision to return to Trump Doral in 2026 revives a historic affiliation that had paused amid complex sponsor and political dynamics. The return also strengthens the tour’s schedule in the critical spring stretch and may signal evolving relationships between the PGA Tour, its stakeholders, and key figures like Donald Trump, who has been notably involved in the broader golfing conflicts involving LIV Golf and Saudi interests.
This development suggests the PGA Tour is positioning itself strategically to regain competitive and market ground, especially as LIV Golf steps away from Doral. Fans and industry watchers will be keen to see how the tournament’s sponsorship and operations unfold in the lead-up to 2026.