While the NFL enjoys an off-season of around 215 days each year and the MLB takes about 150 days off, golf is a different story. After a mere 10-day break, the 2018–2019 PGA Tour schedule got back into full swing this fall. Players came back to the green, racking up early FedExCup points and traveling the world. Following a quick rest for the holidays, this year’s tour will head out to some favorite stops, with some key changes to the schedule.
Here are the can’t-miss stops in store in early 2019 and how to stream or watch the PGA tour live:
Sentry Tournament of Champions
When: January 3–6
Where: Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort in Maui
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
Sony Open
When: January 10–13
Where: Honolulu
TV: Golf Channel
Waste Management Phoenix Open
When: January 31–February 3
Where: TPC Scottsdale
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
The Phoenix stop is the biggest party on the tour, held every Super Bowl weekend. This tournament, won by Gary Woodland in 2018, attracted nearly 720,000 rowdy fans last year, setting a new attendance record.
Changes to the PGA Tour
The most notable change this year is the scheduling of the PGA Championship and The Players Championship, known as the “fifth major.” The Players moves from May to March, and the PGA moves to May from its traditional spot in August as the last major. This puts it in between the Masters Tournament in April and the U.S. Open, which remains in June, on Father’s Day weekend. The British Open keeps its traditional July schedule.
There are also two new tournaments this year being held on back-to-back weeks:
Rocket Mortgage Classic
When: June 27–30
Where: Detroit Golf Club
TV: CBS, Golf Channel
3M Open
When: July 4–7
Where: TPC Twin Cities
TV: CBS, Golf Channel
With these scheduling changes for some of the year’s most important tournaments, the tour Championship and the crowning of the FedExCup winner will happen in August, wrapping up the season before the NFL season takes over the nation’s televisions. Mark your calendars for the important 2019 tournaments below:
World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship
When: February 21–24
Where: Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City, Mexico
Defending Champion: Phil Mickelson ($1,700,000)
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
When: March 7–10
Where: Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy ($1,602,000)
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
The Players Championship
When: March 14–17
Where: TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Defending Champion: Webb Simpson ($1,980,000)
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
The Masters Tournament
When: April 11–14
Where: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia
Defending Champion: Patrick Reed ($1,980,000)
TV: CBS, ESPN
Wells Fargo Championship
When: May 2–5
Where: Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina
Defending Champion: Jason Day ($1,386,000)
TV: Golf Channel, CBS
PGA Championship
When: May 16–19
Where: Bethpage State Park Black Course in Bethpage, New York
Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka ($1,980,000)
TV: CBS, TNT
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
When: May 30–June 2
Where: Muirfield Village Golf Club, in Dublin, Ohio
Defending Champion: Bryson DeChambeau ($1,602,000)
TV: Golf Channel, CBS
U.S. Open
When: June 13–16
Where: Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California
Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka ($2,160,000)
TV: FOX, FS1
British Open
When: July 18–21
Where: Royal Portrush Golf Club Portrush, Northern Ireland
Defending Champion: Francesco Molinari ($1,890,000)
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
When: July 25–28
Where: TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee
Defending Champion: Justin Thomas ($1,700,000)
TV: Golf Channel, CBS
Tour Championship
When: August 22–25
Where: East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia
Defending Champion: Tiger Woods ($1,620,000)
TV: Golf Channel, NBC
Watch TV coverage of the PGA championships on the Golf Channel on Xfinity X1, where you can find games and get stats, 24 hours a day.
