PGA Tour's differentiated schedule provides identity, context as product continues to move forward

The revamped slate has already proven wonders early in the 2023 PGA Tour season

Only two of the top 30 players in the world were in the 2023 Honda Classic field this past weekend. That's peanuts compared to the two PGA Tour tournaments that preceded it: the Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational. Yet because of the Tour's new structure, all three events had an identity as well as the consequential context that's often eluded the league and may, in fact, be why it's in its current position. 

Let me explain.

The tournaments at Phoenix and Riviera were title fights. First Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Nick Taylor battled down the stretch at TPC Scottsdale -- the former two for a chance to add to their borderline historic resumes and the latter for a life-changing victory. The following week at Riviera, Rahm tussled with Max Homa and Keith Mitchell. Homa and Rahm were going for their third win of the season (and Player of the Year driver's seat) while Mitchell was vying for the biggest victory of his life.