Trump Doral Makes a Triumphant Return To the PGA Tour Scene
Trump National Doral is strutting back onto the PGA Tour schedule for the first time in a decade. After a 10-year hiatus that was more dramatic than a soap opera storyline, the Miami resort is set to host a signature event in 2026 with a cool $20 million purse. This comeback story has more plot twists than a Marvel movie, and it is happening smack dab in the middle of golf’s most jam-packed spring schedule ever.
The Blue Monster Rises Again
Remember when Trump Doral used to be the can’t-miss kickoff to Florida’s golf season? Those were the days when international stars would flock to the “Blue Monster” like moths to a flame. The course first joined the PGA Tour schedule back in 1962, eventually becoming a World Golf Championship venue in 2007. Things then got complicated as they tend to do in golf politics.
When Donald Trump purchased the resort, finding a title sponsor became trickier than a Sunday pin position at Augusta. The tour eventually packed up and moved the tournament to Mexico City in 2016, prompting the then-presidential candidate to quip, “I hope they have kidnapping insurance.”
While the PGA Tour was giving Doral the cold shoulder, Saudi-backed LIV Golf swooped in. They have been hosting tournaments there for the past four years, but that party’s ending in 2026 as the PGA Tour reclaims its territory.
Schedule Madness: Spring Golf’s Greatest Test
Here is where things get spicier than a Miami salsa. The new Miami Championship (still hunting for a title sponsor) will land during what might be the most brutal stretch in professional golf history. We are talking about a six-week gauntlet that starts with the Masters and ends with the PGA Championship, cramming three signature events into the four weeks between those majors.
Rory McIlroy, who already skipped three signature events this year, put it perfectly: “It’s quite a bit of a workload for the players to play that much golf in that stretch.” Translation: even the world’s best golfers are wondering if they need a vacation from their vacation.
Will Stars Show Up?
This scheduling bonanza creates a fascinating dilemma. PGA Tour signature events were designed to get all the top players competing against each other regularly, but cramming five massive tournaments into six weeks? That is like asking someone to eat five Thanksgiving dinners in a month and a half.
Justin Thomas summed up the player perspective beautifully: “Obviously, the perfect model would be for all of us to be at all the events as often as possible.” But he’s also realistic about the human element. Some courses just don’t click with certain players, regardless of the paycheck size.
Tommy Fleetwood offered the glass-half-full perspective: “If you want to play all of them, what an amazing stretch of opportunities for you in terms of big events.” True, but that is also an amazing stretch of opportunities to burn out faster than a cheap lightbulb.
The Scheduling Shuffle
The PGA Tour isn’t just adding Doral back. They are playing musical chairs with the entire calendar. The season now starts a week later, on January 8 at Kapalua, giving players extra holiday recovery time. This pushes the WM Phoenix Open to February 5-8, strategically ending on Super Bowl Sunday because nothing says “peak sports entertainment” like golf and football competing for eyeballs. The AT&T Pebble Beach and Genesis Invitational both get bumped back a week, creating a domino effect.
In a move that might surprise exactly no one, the Mexico Open got relocated to the fall schedule. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic tournament pulled a strategic retreat from March to July.
The Human Side Of Golf
Lost in all this scheduling complexity are the players who aren’t part of golf’s elite tier. During that intense six-week spring stretch, non-signature event eligible players will have exactly two tournaments to play. One with a purse that wouldn’t impress a local club pro.ย Scottie Scheffler, currently golf’s golden boy, already skips certain events to support his hometown Dallas tournaments. If the top player is picking and choosing, what does that mean for everyone else?
Trump’s Golf Empire Strategy
This Doral comeback represents more than just another tournament returning home. It is a fascinating chess move in the ongoing PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf saga. While LIV loses Miami, Trump National near Washington D.C. will host a LIV event. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for Trump, who recently positioned himself as a potential “facilitator” for a PGA Tour-LIV merger. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan even called Trump’s involvement “substantial” and credited his “willingness to serve as the facilitator” in bringing the tours together.
The Bottom Line
Trump Doral’s return to the PGA Tour is like that blockbuster sequel everyone’s been waiting for. It has star power, controversy, and enough drama to keep golf fans glued to their screens. The $20 million Miami Championship launching April 30, 2026, represents more than just another tournament; it is a statement that in professional golf, everything old can become new again.
Whether the world’s best players will show up consistently for this scheduling marathon remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: spring 2026 will either be the greatest stretch in PGA Tour history or the moment when even professional golfers admit they need a breather.
