The PGA Tour’s announcement could have consequences for Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler
The PGA Tour have confirmed that the Valspar Championship will no longer be played in March amid Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler’s disagreement. The tournament – which is usually played in late March – has now been shifted a month and a half later into early May (May 6-9), according to the Tour’s 2027 schedule.
The event will now be played just before the Truist Championship and means there will be one less competition to play before the Masters. The change could have repercussions on the preparation that the two golf superstars undertake when it comes to challenging for majors.
McIlroy usually takes time off after playing in a major and did so after winning his second Green Jacket in April, where he sat out a string of events. However, the 37-year-old favours playing a tournament close to a major and continued his approach when competing in the Truist Championship just days before the PGA Championship.
His method differs from Scheffler, 29, who admitted he doesn’t enjoy playing so close to a major. The world No. 1 opted to skip the event at Quail Hollow, instead wanting to recuperate before playing at Aronimink Golf Club.
The American said: “I typically don’t love playing the week before a major. It’s nice to have so many tournaments that are really good. If I had it my way I would play every single week out here.
“But just the nature of our sport and the demand on our time and everything it’s not really possible. If y’all were to walk with me each day of the tournament and see what we have to do in order to play one week, having to do that four weeks in a row… I wouldn’t be able to perform my best.
“So when I show up at a tournament I want to be able to give it my best and I have to set up my schedule in a certain way and, you know, the chips kind of fall where they do.”
McIlroy pleaded his case for being in action ahead of a major, as he said in 2025: “Before, I’m all for. After, I wouldn’t — I’m not a huge fan of it, but there’s only so many weeks in the year. I really like playing the week before if it makes sense.
“I think, again, this week was a great indication of where my game is and what I need to think about and what I need to work on going into next week. But the weeks after majors are tough.”
As is McIlroy’s tradition, he’s currently on break from golf after finishing T7 at the PGA Championship, which was won by British golfer Aaron Rai.
Scheffler opted to compete in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson last week as he clinched a third-place finish despite posting a -25 score, with Wyndham Clark coming out on top.
Both the world No. 1 and the world No. 2 will be back competing in the same field at the Memorial Tournament this week. However, they each aren’t set to compete at the Canadian Open next week before the US Open.
