The PGA Tour continues shaping its 2027 schedule, and Florida again sits at the center of the early‑season storyline with Doral back in the conversation. The Sunshine State already hosts four major stops: the Cognizant Classic at PGA National, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, The Players Championship, and the Bay Area’s own Valspar Championship at Innisbrook. Together, they form one of the most demanding stretches on the calendar, drawing strong fields because players trust the courses and the competitive rhythm of March in Florida.
That rhythm also fuels the biggest question in Florida golf: can Trump National Doral return to the PGA Tour after a decade away?
The Tour last played Doral in 2016, when the WGC‑Cadillac Championship moved to Mexico City. Crowds still filled the Blue Monster even in years when Tiger Woods didn’t win, and the event carried a history dating back to 1962. Doral then shifted to LIV Golf, which staged team championships and individual events from 2022 through 2025. LIV drew solid crowds, and the Blue Monster remained one of the sport’s most recognizable venues.
Doral’s Case for a Return
Five of the top 15 players in the world skipped the Cadillac Championship this past weekend, and the combination of weather issues and the F1 race in Miami didn’t help the atmosphere. Fans who once packed the Blue Monster stayed away. That reality gives the PGA Tour something to consider as it evaluates future venues and market strength.
Tour leadership has said publicly that it wants Doral back at some point. Reports also indicate that ongoing PGA Tour–LIV Golf negotiations could influence where Doral fits. The course still offers a championship‑level test, a major‑market location, and a globally recognized brand. Those factors matter when the Tour looks for strong television windows and fan engagement.
Sports Talk Florida has covered the Florida swing extensively, including how the Bay Area’s own Valspar Championship continues to draw a strong field despite a tough date because Innisbrook delivers a proper test.
The Scheduling Problem
The challenge is simple: space. The 2027 Florida swing already runs deep, and the Tour wants to avoid oversaturation in one region. The Cognizant Classic, Bay Hill, The Players, and the Valspar create a tight block that players understand and value. Adding Doral would require a reshuffle, a new date, or a move outside the traditional March window.
The Tour also continues rebuilding its global footprint, and every new event forces another event to shift or disappear. That creates more moving parts for a schedule already stretched across continents.
Could the Fall Provide an Opening?
The fall portion of the PGA Tour calendar continues to evolve, and that stretch could offer Doral its most realistic path back. A fall Cadillac Championship would give the Blue Monster a consistent home, a strong field, and a chance to stand out without competing against the Florida March gauntlet.
For now, Doral waits. The course remains in the conversation, but the 2027 Florida swing looks full. The Blue Monster may roar again on the PGA Tour, but the timing depends on schedule flexibility, merger negotiations, and how much room the Tour wants to create in a state that already carries a heavy load.
