AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rumored to become designated Tour event next season

The PGA Tour announced eight designated events for their 2024 season on Wednesday, March 1. Reportedly, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament will be part of the designated event.

The 72-hole tournament will be cut short to 36 holes, unlike the traditional 54-cut-hole tournament format. Last month, legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus spilt the beans about Pebble's elevated event and said:

"I heard that. That was maybe a bit premature."

American golfer Jordan Spieth also opened up about the PGA Tour's new schedule. He said:

“I voiced that I feel that we have this opportunity where the top guys are committing to play in the same events then we should look at the most iconic venues and make sure that we’re doing it there because that feels like the coolest scenario for ratings, for sponsors."

He went on to add:

"Let’s figure out what can be done. I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t even know if they do. For AT&T to be open to it would be really cool because I love that golf tournament and it had been an unfortunate part of the schedule ever since the Saudi stuff and even before that.”

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PGA Tour reduces fields in designated events

The PGA Tour launched designated events for the 2024 season. The event will be a no-cut tournament with a limited field size of 70-80 players.

The American tour faces stiff competition from LIV Golf and has been making changes to its schedule. Not only did they introduce designated events, but they also increased the prize money of their tournament.

The PGA Tour has announced 12 elevated tournaments for the calendar year 2023 and now will organize the designated events next year.

Announcing the news, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said:

"These smaller, Designated event fields will not only deliver substantial, can’t-miss tournaments to our fans at important intervals throughout the season, but they will also enhance the quality of Full-Field events. Together, this approach provides a schedule that is cohesive, compelling, consequential and with clarity for fans, players and sponsors alike.”

The designated events are now similar to the LIV Golf events, given the Saudi-backed series to mock the PGA Tour. They shared a post on their social media page taking a jibe at the American tour series.

LIV Golf tweeted:

"Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations PGA Tour. Welcome to the future."

Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 Masters winner, also opened up about the designated events. He said:

"I think it's exciting because you're going to have the top guys in the world playing against each other more often. You're going to be able to guarantee the sponsors that those guys are going to be there four days.

“If you're coming out to an event to watch on Saturday and Sunday and, you know, if I'm imagining myself as a kid I would like to get out there early. Let's say I'm having a bad week, some kid can come out and watch me play early in the day and you can guarantee that Rory McIlroy's going to be there on Sunday, Jon Rahm's going to be there on Sunday. I think that's a lot of value added to TV and for sponsors.”