Welcome back to SI Golf’s Fact or Fiction, where the upcoming Florida Swing means we are that much closer to having our own clubs finally see some sun.
Once again, we’re here to debate a series of statements for writers and editors to declare as “Fact” or “Fiction” along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be “Neutral” since there's a lot of gray area in golf.
Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X account.
Anthony Kim completed one of golf’s great comeback stories in recent years with a win at LIV Golf Adelaide. As the PGA Tour has already welcomed back Brooks Koepka and (later this year) Patrick Reed, it should offer Kim opportunities to play in tournaments next year.
Bob Harig: FICTION. Kim has not been a member of the PGA Tour for years, and thus he would be subject to the non-member regulations that have been in place for those competing in LIV Golf events. He’d need to sit out a year from his last LIV event. The Tour could certainly make an exception, but that seems unlikely. And why would Kim want to give up what he has on LIV Golf?
Jeff Ritter: FICTION. Kim is having a rebirth on LIV and if he stays hot he could play his way into major championships. The PGA Tour may well change its criteria next year and open a path for more LIV players to jump, but for now AK seems to be right where he needs to be.
Max Schreiber: FICTION. When the PGA Tour welcomed Koepka back, it opened a pathway to recent major champions who would still have some status on Tour. Next, perhaps, could be past Tour winner, which Kim is. However, it had been 16 years since Kim won the Houston Open. Allowing anyone back on Tour with a “cool” or “inspiring” story sets a bad precedent.
John Schwarb: NEUTRAL. Kim shouldn’t go to the front of the line next year for regular Tour events, but here’s an idea if the Players really wants to be considered a major: give an invite to any multiple LIV event winners from the prior year (adding spots to the now-smaller field to accommodate). So if Kim can back up that first win, he’s heading to TPC Sawgrass in 2027.
Tiger Woods told reporters at the Genesis that he is continuing to work on returning to competitive golf and when asked if the Masters isn’t off the table, he simply said “no” (with a small grin). Book it: he will have a first-round tee time on April 9.
Bob Harig: FACT. The fact that he didn’t hedge and also talked about working his way back seems a good sign that Augusta National is his goal.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. And that tee time will probably be at around 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, with a nice break before he tees off again Friday at 1:50. He’ll be paired with Tommy Fleetwood and U.S. Amateur champ Mason Howell, and we will all be watching.
Max Schreiber: FACT. Less than 50 days away. He’ll find a way to play. If he can, he always does.
John Schwarb: FACT. He tends to be coy but said he’s hitting full shots now. He’ll be ready to go and it would be a disappointment—though not a complete shock—if we find out otherwise a week before the Masters.
Woods is part of the PGA Tour’s Future Competitions Committee and said there is a possibility of the Genesis moving to August as a playoff event. That would be the right move for the FedEx Cup.
Bob Harig: FICTION. Riviera would be great in August but so would Torrey Pines, which is without a sponsor and perhaps without a future date. The Genesis would also run into some scheduling problems with the 2028 Olympic Games to be played at Riviera as well as the 2031 U.S. Open.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. The Tour can sort of the Olympics conundrum later, but the FedEx playoff rotation needs a reboot. I think they should go for it.
Max Schreiber: NEUTRAL. The West Coast swing has some of the best stops on Tour, and when I’m cooped up in New Jersey with snow still on the ground, seeing the California sunshine on TV hits different. With that being said, the Tour reportedly wants to own the summer, and with the FedEx Cup playoffs an afterthought for casual fans, a way to beef them up is to play at prestigious courses like Riviera.
John Schwarb: FACT. This year’s playoff lineup is TPC Southwind in Memphis (as usual, because FedEx), Bellerive in St. Louis and once again East Lake in Atlanta. That’s simply not a good enough trio in terms of courses or markets. As Bob said there are long-term scheduling problems around Riv but no reason to not make this change for 2027.
Woods also confirmed that the PGA of America has “asked for my input” on the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy but said that he hasn’t made up his mind, given his current work with the Tour. He ultimately will not take the job for Adare Manor.
Bob Harig: FICTION. Woods has a lot going on but, ultimately, the PGA of America is in a tough spot and needs Woods to try and turn around its poor fortunes. The players will buy into a Tiger captaincy and he’s had success as a Presidents Cup captain. An away Ryder Cup never seemed likely, but now it does.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. Tiger is grinding towards playing the Masters. I just don’t think he wants to be captain, which is why he hasn’t already accepted the job. But given that Woods has input, here’s a dark horse candidate based on nothing but a hunch: Justin Thomas.
Max Schreiber: FACT. Woods will take the role eventually. But it still seems like there’s a lot on his plate with rehab and leading the PGA Tour’s overhaul on the Future Competition Committee. That will ultimately cause him to push back his captaincy.
More Golf from Sports Illustrated
- Tiger Woods Has a Ryder Cup Captaincy Decision to Make
- An Affordable Donald Ross Gem in the Sunshine State, Dazzles Anew
- The Curious Case of Sahith Theegala’s Exemption Into the Genesis Invitational
- Genesis Invitational Preview: Field, Course, History, Tee Times, How to Watch
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Riviera Should Be Relocated on Future PGA Tour Schedules.
