How Scottie Scheffler might respond to Rory McIlroy’s more events remarks

Rory McIlroy shares his thoughts on potential PGA Tour changes

The PGA Tour is heading for some big changes, and it’s now Brian Rolapp’s job to help guide the way forward.

The tour schedule looks set to shrink quite a bit in the next few years. There are already talks that the calendar could be cut down to as few as 20 events.

With fewer cards available, the PGA Tour might end up feeling more like football’s Champions League. Every result will carry more weight, and that could push the Tour to try and get all players into every event.

But Rory McIlroy doesn’t seem interested in going along with that idea.

What Scottie Scheffler might think about Rory McIlroy’s remarks on his upcoming schedule

Before the Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy made it clear he intended to pick and choose his events. He made sure to compete in India and Australia later in 2025 and once again opened his year on the DP World Tour instead of joining the early action in the US.

That stance suggests Rolapp might have some convincing to do when it comes to getting McIlroy fully on board. Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard pointed out that Scottie Scheffler could add another layer of complexity.

“Let’s say it’s 120 players. 110 of them are going to play where and when the PGA Tour tells them to play because the PGA Tour’s going to make it so lucrative,” he said. “They’re going to give them so many points and so much money; it’s going to be the courses they want to play. That’s not going to be the issue.”

“The issue is what Rory sort of voiced last week at Dubai – that LIV Golf didn’t sign any ‘high-profile’ players recently, and he doesn’t think they will. Let’s be honest, there aren’t many players who move the needle for TV networks or corporate sponsors beyond maybe 10 or 15.”

Hoggard continued: “And Rory is siloed off, and he is at a different stage. I don’t think it’s that far though to say that I can imagine Scottie Scheffler; I was amazed, I don’t think I ever locked in on it; his schedule has remained almost exactly this same schedule for four or five years.

“He is a guy of routine,” Hoggard explained. “And if suddenly you’re going break up that routine and tell him ‘no, no, you’re not going play those six or seven events’, we want you play these six or seven events’. It wouldn’t surprise me if Scottie felt similarly.”

How Scheffler’s 2025 decisions cast doubts on PGA Tour’s new event structure

The PGA Tour is expected to consult both McIlroy and Scheffler before making any sweeping changes.

While the tour won’t want to hand over full control, they’ll be mindful of not alienating their two biggest names. If both stars choose to skip multiple events in a condensed 20-tournament schedule, it won’t do the tour any favours.

Scheffler had already shown a willingness to skip signature events last season. He chose to sit out the Truist Championship, opting instead for the Charles Schwab Challenge and The CJ CUP Byron Nelson around the same time as the PGA Championship.

And with his win at Quail Hollow following that decision, it’s hard to argue against his approach.