Mackenzie Hughes not sold on PGA Tour's vision for future - FOGOLF

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Canadian PGA Tour pro Hughes says details are lacking and CEO Brian Rolapp’s plan could put key aspect of RBC Canadian Open in jeopardy

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Published Mar 12, 2026 • Last updated 24 minutes ago • 3 minute read

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Mackenzie Hughes plays his shot from the third tee during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2026. Getty ImagesArticle content

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Canadian Mackenzie Hughes isn’t convinced the PGA Tour is heading in the right direction and is concerned what this latest vision of the future could mean for the RBC Canadian Open.

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A day after PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp’s State of the Tour address seemed to hit many of the right notes with fans and analysts, the two-time tour winner Hughes threw a little cold water on the speed and scope of the potential changes.

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“It was announcements, but not announcements. He said a lot without saying a lot,” Hughes told Postmedia after shooting an opening-round two-over par 74 at the Players Championship. “We’ve heard that spiel. I felt like I knew what was coming.”

It was a reminder that getting all of the different stakeholders onboard with his plan will be a major task for the PGA Tour’s new boss.

Star players have a very different view than many of the rank-and-file about what’s best for the game. Same goes for sponsors and tournament organizers who might not be as keen to see the tour schedule potentially shrink and undergo yet another major calendar revision, a key element of the plan Rolapp laid out on Wednesday.

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“I know the direction they are trying to head, but I feel like we are just so far away from that actually materializing,” Hughes said. “I feel the schedule might actually change drastically in ’28. In ’27 there will probably be some minor tweaks and a different start date and a few less events. But we’re not shaving the schedule down next year to 24 events or anything I don’t think.”

Trouble for the Canadian Open?

Hughes also is concerned that the tour’s apparent desire to have tournament fields capped at 120 players could mean trouble for his beloved RBC Canadian Open.

While fans largely were thrilled that the tour’s Signature Events could soon feature larger fields and 36-hole cuts, if 120-player tournaments are hard caps across the entire schedule, Hughes warns it could spell the end of the “Open” aspect of the Canadian Open.

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“It would be unfortunate, but that is what it’s probably going to end up being,” Hughes said of a 120-man RBC Canadian Open. “They’re just probably going to cut back on all the spots and the exemptions and hard cap those fields. If you go 120, all of a sudden you don’t have the space to put in 15 Canadians. And obviously I got to play it twice as Canadian Amateur champ, so obviously I benefited from that. So we’ll see how it all shakes out.”

Rolapp was quick to mention that none of the plans and ideas he proposed on Wednesday have been finalized, and there undoubtedly is plenty left to discuss in Florida boardrooms over coming months and possibly years.

It’s some of that uncertainty that concerns the 35-year-old Hughes, who was one of the most outspoken players following the infamous “framework deal” with LIV Golf’s Saudi owners in 2023 that blindsided players.

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Hughes did say that the situation this time around is different and that players at least have not been left completely in the dark.

“Brian’s been clear about the direction he wants to head,” Hughes said. “I think it’s just a matter of shoring things up and actually having a definitive, this is what’s going to happen. Everything right now is in a bit of a grey area, so when these happen and to the extent that they will happen is all still up in the air.”

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Hughes was a member of the tour’s Players Advisory Council for two years beginning in 2023 — a tumultuous time for the PGA Tour if there ever was one — and he often felt out of the loop even in that elevated role.

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Now in his 10th season on the world’s top tour, the Dundas, Ont., native seems slightly resigned to the fact that what’s next is out of his hands.

“The Future Competition Committee, Brian, the board, they’re all trying to figure out how to make the tour the best it can be,” Hughes said. “That’s their job, I’m not involved.

“My opinion on it won’t change what’s going to take place,’ he added. “I don’t love the trimming and the trimming and the trimming. I mean I’ve heard talks of 90 tour cards and we’re already at 100, down from 125.

“That’s making the job harder and harder and I already thought it was pretty hard. We’ll see what happens.”

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Mackenzie Hughes not sold on PGA Tour’s vision for future

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