PGA Tour Moves Forward, Leaving Debate Over Players Championship as Major Behind

Tour CEO plans to share vision for modernizing competition model, as the debate over the Players' major status seems outdated

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The PGA Tour is focused on moving forward with big changes, including a plan by CEO Brian Rolapp to share a vision for modernizing the competition model. In this context, it seems odd for promoters to go back in time and push the tired topic of whether The Players Championship should be considered a major tournament. The notion of The Players as a major hasn't been a major talking point for around 20 years, with many players and commentators agreeing that it is an elite event on its own merits, without needing the 'major' label.

Why it matters

The PGA Tour is looking to the future and making significant changes, so revisiting the long-settled debate about The Players' major status seems out of step with the tour's forward-looking approach. The tour now has a $1.5 billion investment from a consortium of North American sports owners, heightening the pressure to maximize the value of its events. While The Players has many major-like attributes, the consensus seems to be that it stands on its own as a premier tournament without needing to be classified as a fifth major.

The details

The Players Championship moved to May in 2007, and in the years since, more time has been spent discussing what it is (the biggest event on the biggest tour) instead of what it isn't (a major). The tournament offers a five-year PGA Tour exemption, just like the majors, and its roll call of winners includes 28 major champions. However, it has not been considered a major, with players like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood stating that they don't view it as such, even though they hold it in high regard.

  • The Players Championship moved to May in 2007.
  • The PGA Tour received a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group in recent years.

The players

Brian Rolapp

The CEO of the PGA Tour who plans to share a vision for modernizing the competition model.

Rory McIlroy

The defending champion of The Players Championship who stated that he considers it one of the best golf tournaments in the world, but does not view it as a major.

Tommy Fleetwood

A PGA Tour player who said that The Players Championship is "not a major" for him, but that it doesn't diminish the tournament in any way.

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What they’re saying

“I think The Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don't think anyone disputes that. I'm a traditionalist, I'm a historian of the game. We have four major championships.”

— Rory McIlroy

“It is an amazing tournament in its own right. And I don't think it being classified a major or not a major makes it any more or any less. ... It stands on its own without a label.”

— Rory McIlroy

“It's not a major for me. Saying it's not a major doesn't demean it any way, and it doesn't make it any less big than what it is. It's always been The Players Championship. We've called it the fifth major forever. I think four majors sits perfectly.”

— Tommy Fleetwood, FedEx Cup champion

What’s next

The PGA Tour is expected to share more details about its plans to modernize the competition model in the coming days and weeks.

The takeaway

The PGA Tour's focus on the future and making significant changes to its competition model makes the debate over whether The Players Championship should be considered a major tournament seem outdated. The consensus among players is that The Players is an elite event that stands on its own merits, without needing the 'major' label, allowing the tour to move forward with its modernization efforts.