, August 22, 2025
News Summary
The PGA Tour is set to return to Trump National Doral in Miami for a brand-new event named the Miami Championship. Scheduled for April 30 to May 3, this signature tournament boasts a substantial $20 million purse and marks the Tour’s re-entry into the Miami market after a notable absence. The event, designed to enhance player opportunities and fan engagement, will place the focus on high-profile competitions. As part of a larger schedule overhaul, the addition of the Miami Championship may also impact existing tournaments and player access.
Miami — PGA Tour Heads Back to Doral: Meet the New Miami Championship
Big news, same blue skies
The PGA Tour is returning to Trump National Doral in Miami with a brand-new event called the Miami Championship, set for April 30 to May 3, 2026. This is a major scheduling shake-up: the Tour is adding the event as a signature tournament, and it’s expected to carry a hefty $20 million purse.
Why this is a headline grabber
The move puts the Tour back into the Miami market after a long absence. The organization left Doral in 2016 amid sponsor withdrawal and tense relations with the property owner at the time. Since that exit, the Tour tried other options, including a World Golf Championships-style event in Mexico City that eventually ran into sponsorship trouble and ended with the pandemic in 2020.
How this fits into the bigger picture
The Tour is adding the Miami Championship without dropping any current events, which means it will become the ninth signature event. That’s arriving alongside another major change: full-time Tour cards will be cut from 125 to 100. With fewer full-time spots and more high-profile events that favor the game’s top earners, the richer rewards are tilted toward top players. Only the leading 50 in FedEx points, those riding hot form, or a handful of sponsor invites will generally get into these signature fields.
Crunched calendar, squeezed chances
Starting in 2026, the schedule gets jam-packed. Over a roughly 12-week stretch there will be three majors plus five signature events, leaving lower-tier players with a lot less room to squeeze in starts. Between the Masters and the PGA Championship there is a six-week span where many players will only have two realistic chances to tee it up. That condensed block could push players toward skipping certain signature events, which in turn could damage attendance or interest at smaller tournaments.
Who else played Doral lately?
A rival circuit held events at Doral for the past four years but is set to move on in 2026. Those Doral shows reportedly struggled with attendance and the rival tour has been focused on opening new markets, which left the door open for the PGA Tour to come back in with the new Miami stop.
Politics, past fights and a thawed relationship
The original split with Doral in 2016 followed the loss of a title sponsor and sharp tensions tied to inflammatory remarks made by the property’s owner during a presidential campaign. Relations had been bitter for a long time, but signs of a thaw showed up in recent months when golf leadership and the property owner took steps to mend fences. That détente appears to have cleared the path for the Tour’s return to Doral.
Sponsors, shuffles and schedule tweaks
The PGA Tour is currently looking for a title sponsor for the Miami Championship. One knock-on effect of inserting Miami into the spring schedule: the Mexico Open will be shifted to the FedEx Cup fall slate. Organizers have also shuffled dates for several existing events to fit the new layout for 2026.
What this means for fans and players
For top players, more signature events can mean more guaranteed money and fewer tournaments needed to secure a big payday. For lower-ranked players or those holding conditional status, opportunities to play on big stages may shrink. Fans might see star power concentrated at more of the same tournaments, while smaller events could struggle if top names choose to rest or skip parts of the packed schedule.
Bottom line
This is a big pivot in the Tour’s marketing and financial strategy: returning to a familiar venue while reshaping the calendar and prize pools. The changes will ripple across the sport — from player schedules and sponsor deals to which tournaments get the crowds and television attention. Expect heated debate among players, sponsors, and fans in the months before the first ball is struck at Doral in 2026.
FAQ
Q: What are the dates for the Miami Championship?
A: April 30 to May 3, 2026.
Q: How big is the purse?
A: The event is expected to have a $20 million purse.
Q: Will this replace any existing PGA Tour events?
A: No. The Tour is adding the Miami Championship without removing existing events, creating a ninth signature event.
Q: How does this affect player access and playing opportunities?
A: With fewer full-time cards (down to 100 from 125) and more signature events, top players will dominate the marquee fields. Lower-ranked players will see fewer chances, especially in the busy spring stretch between majors.
Q: Why is the Tour returning to Doral now?
A: A combination of healed relationships with the property’s leadership and a strategic decision to expand the signature-event slate brought the Tour back. The organization is also looking for a title sponsor.
Q: What happens to the Mexico Open?
A: The Mexico Open will move to the FedEx Cup fall schedule as part of the 2026 adjustments.
Quick reference: Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Event | Miami Championship | New signature event on the PGA Tour calendar |
| Dates | April 30 – May 3, 2026 | Spring slot during a compressed, star-heavy stretch |
| Purse | $20,000,000 | One of the bigger prize pools, shifting money toward top players |
| Doral history | Returned after 2016 exit; host of rival events in recent years | Significant shift in Tour-marketing and financial relations |
| Tour card change | Full-time cards reduced from 125 to 100 | Fewer guaranteed starts for players outside top ranks |
| Mexico Open | Moved to FedEx Cup fall slate | Schedule reshuffle to make room for Miami |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Miami Championship Joins PGA Tour as a New Signature Event
Back-to-School Celebration at South Shore Plaza
Faldo Critiques U.S.-Centric Golf Calendar Amidst Ryder Cup Anniversary
Weekend Events in Greater Boston: Concerts and Festivals
PGA Tour Returns to Doral with New Miami Championship
LIV Golf’s Rookie Shuffle and Relegation Rumble
The Return of the Blue Monster to the PGA Tour
PGA Tour 2026 Schedule Unveiled with Miami Championship Return
Doral Roars Back and PGA Tour Schedule Gets a Shake-Up
Scottie Scheffler Dominates BMW Championship in Owings Mills
Additional Resources
- USA Today: PGA Tour 2026 Schedule
- ESPN: Trump National Doral Returns
- Golf.com: PGA Tour Schedule Changes
- Sports Business Journal: PGA Tour Confirms 2026 Schedule
- Sports Illustrated: PGA Tour Ruining Momentum
- Wikipedia: PGA Tour
- Google Search: PGA Tour 2026
- Google Scholar: PGA Tour Schedule
- Encyclopedia Britannica: PGA Tour
- Google News: PGA Tour 2026
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
