When the PGA Tour returned to Doral last week for the Cadillac Championship—now a signature event—the anticipation was palpable. After all, the Blue Monster has a storied history, hosting the Doral Open from the 1960s through 2006 and the WGC-Cadillac Championship for another decade. But as the week unfolded, something felt off.

Johnson Wagner, a seasoned voice in the golf world, didn't hold back his surprise. "The more I'm at these signature events, especially early in the week, there just is something lacking," he said on CBS Sports' Scorecard. And his observation wasn't just a casual comment—it was backed by a stark firsthand experience.

"I took a walk on the course on Thursday," Wagner recalled. "I hadn't seen it in over 10 years, so I wanted to check it out. It was shocking to me. In walking the golf course, I probably bumped into 15 to 20 fans. There was nobody out there on Thursday."

He acknowledged that many spectators were likely following Scottie Scheffler, which explained the sparse crowds during his walk. But even by Saturday, with Scheffler in the mix, the energy felt flat. "The biggest crowds on the course... there were some people, but it was really lacking," Wagner added.

The tournament itself lacked drama, thanks to Cameron Young's dominant performance—he built a five-shot lead by the halfway point and never looked back. But for Wagner, the bigger issue is the signature event format itself. While players appreciate the smaller 72-man fields and faster practice rounds, the atmosphere seems to be suffering.

For fans and apparel enthusiasts alike, this raises a question: Are these exclusive events losing the buzz that makes golf truly electric? As the tour continues to evolve, the crowd's energy—or lack thereof—might be the biggest story of all.