The PGA TOUR is changing — but is it changing for the better?
With the fall PGA TOUR season headed towards a close, Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme take a look some big category and card changes on the way for the 2026 PGA TOUR season. Smylie and Charlie take a look back at the 2025 season to examine how differences in points for signature and full-field events played out, and whether certain players benefited more than others in that structure.
PLUS — huge news: The Smylie Show is heading to GOLF CHANNEL beginning January 2026, airing Wednesdays at 9 AM Eastern. Smylie and Charlie reflect on the journey, what the TV version of the show will look like, and how the audience helped get the show here.
Tune in, subscribe, and stick around for more golf storytelling and behind-the-scenes insight!
Chapters ↓
00:55 — The Smylie Show is heading to the Golf Channel!
01:36 — Reflecting on the three-year journey of the show
03:06 — Show changes to look for in 2026
06:05 — Setting the Table: 2026 PGA Tour Rules & Categories
06:45 — Are PGA Points Fair? Full-Field vs Signature Debate
07:18 — The Maverick McNealy Case Study
08:22 — Is Winning a Full-Field Event Actually Harder?
10:13 — What the Data Says About Difficulty
11:45 — The 200-Point Problem
13:11 — Why Signature Events Give Huge Built-In Advantages
14:06 — Should a Top-10 Be Worth More in Full-Fields?
15:16 — How Signature Starts Create Long-Term Inequality
16:05 — Reviewing the Signature Event Chart (Audio Notes)
17:14 — Case Study: Kurt Kitayama vs Hideki Matsuyama
19:24 — Do Signature Events Artificially Inflate Some Players?
20:32 — Chris Gotterup & the “Late Season Unfairness” Issue
23:16 — Signature Events vs Full-Field: Who Really Benefits?
24:12 — How Players Ride Momentum — or Don’t
25:18 — Why You MUST Play Well Early on Today’s PGA Tour
26:21 — Low Full-Field Point Earners: Morikawa, Aberg, More
27:33 — The No-Cut Advantage Problem
29:06 — What the Tour Actually Wants: Star Protection
29:26 — Tony Finau vs Gary Woodland Breakdown
31:43 — Can You Play Your Way Off Tour With Signature Starts?
32:35 — Adam Scott & Max Homa Examples
34:51 — Rickie Fowler’s Special Case
36:23 — Why Sponsors Will Always Influence Signature Events
37:14 — Golf Is Niche — And That Shapes the Entire System
38:18 — What the Top-100 Cut Means for Journeymen
39:04 — The New 2026 Rules: Field Sizes, 120-Player Players, Q-School
41:23 — DP World Tour vs Korn Ferry: Who Deserves More Spots?
44:41 — Should the DPWT Really Get 10 Cards?
47:55 — The DPWT’s Crossroads: PGA Tour vs LIV
49:45 — Reviewing This Year’s DPWT Grads
52:02 — The Challenge of Jumping from Europe to the PGA Tour
54:07 — Breaking Down the 101–150 Conditional Groups
56:14 — Past Champion Category & Where Smylie Would Slot In
57:31 — Tiger Woods Leading the Competition Committee
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