MIAMI, FL — Following a disappointing May debut marked by sweltering heat, high humidity, and notably sparse crowds, the PGA Tour is moving the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral back to its traditional early-March slot as part of a restructured Florida Swing for the 2027 season.
The announcement, confirmed Tuesday, repositions the high-profile Signature Event to March 4-7, 2027, at the iconic Blue Monster course. It slots in after the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches and directly before The Players Championship, restoring a more traditional rhythm to the pre-Masters Florida stretch that builds momentum toward Augusta.
The 2026 edition, held April 30-May 3 at Doral, struggled with challenging conditions typical of late spring in South Florida. Temperatures climbed into the upper 80s with oppressive humidity, while scattered rain delays disrupted play, including a two-hour postponement for the final round. Attendance appeared significantly lower than expected for a Signature Event featuring top players, with reports of empty grandstands and lighter crowds than during previous LIV Golf visits to the same venue.
Some top players opted to skip the event, citing the tight schedule and positioning ahead of other commitments, which further muted the atmosphere. While Cameron Young cruised to a wire-to-wire victory by six shots over Scottie Scheffler, the overall vibe fell short of the buzz anticipated for the Tour’s long-awaited return to Doral after a decade away.
PGA Tour officials had expressed optimism about reviving the Doral tradition when the event returned in 2026, but the timing exposed vulnerabilities. Moving it back to March aligns it with cooler, more player- and fan-friendly weather while strengthening the Florida Swing’s flow: Cognizant Classic → Cadillac Championship at Doral → The Players → Arnold Palmer Invitational (now March 18-21 at Bay Hill). The Valspar Championship shifts to early May (May 6-9) ahead of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which also moved.
“This adjustment gives us a stronger, more cohesive block leading into the Masters,” a Tour source familiar with the planning noted. “Doral belongs in that March window where it historically thrived.”
The change also addresses broader schedule concerns, including player fatigue and event density in the critical buildup to the season’s first major. Doral, long a PGA Tour staple from 1962 to 2016, regains its place in a revamped early-season calendar that aims to boost attendance, television appeal, and competitive rhythm.
Fans and players alike are expected to welcome the shift. March dates historically delivered better conditions on the demanding Blue Monster layout, where wind and firmer fairways test precision without the added burden of extreme heat.
The 2027 Florida Swing now shapes up as one of the most compelling stretches on the PGA Tour calendar, positioning Doral once again as a key stop on the road to Augusta.
