Introduction of Promotion and Relegation in PGA Tour
Promotion and relegation will become a central feature of a redesigned PGA Tour starting in 2028.
Details of the changes were revealed during a press conference led by former world number one golfer Tiger Woods, held ahead of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Woods serves as chairman of the tour's Future Competitions Committee, which has officially approved modifications that will establish two distinct tiers of competition within the PGA Tour.
"Over the past eight months, the Future Competition Committee has spent a lot of time on a very important and fundamental question: How do we build the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour?" Woods said.
"This work was never about any one player or person. It was about bringing together different perspectives, having honest, hard conversations and thinking boldly about what is best for the game that we all love."
This event marked the 15-times major champion's first public appearance since his recovery period following a car accident in Florida last March. Woods has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence.
Structure of the New PGA Tour Format
The proposed schedule will feature the world's top golfers competing in the PGA Tour's "Championship Series," consisting of tournaments with fields of 120 players.
The season will include 23 or 24 events, running from January through August, and will incorporate the four major championships.
This elite tier will offer prize purses of at least $20 million (£15.2 million) per event, with the top 90 players at the end of the season retaining their status.
Simultaneously, a "Challenger Series" will operate with minimum purses of $4 million. Players who win two events in the Challenger Series during the same season will earn immediate promotion to the Championship Series.
Pending Details and International Relations
Full specifics remain to be finalized, including the PGA Tour's ongoing relationship with the European-based DP World Tour.
The current "strategic alliance" between the two tours is due for renewal next year. PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp indicated that by 2028, the European tour is expected to play a role in hosting international tournaments, including national opens, during the autumn months.
Currently, the top 10 finishers on the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai who are not already PGA Tour members receive PGA Tour cards for the following season. Whether this arrangement will continue is still undecided.
"It hasn't been decided," Rolapp said. "We've had a really successful relationship with the DP World Tour, inclusive of those cards."
The tour boss, who will succeed Jay Monahan as PGA Tour commissioner next year, added: "That's one of the many things we're speaking about."
Venue Selection and Tournament Format
Rolapp also announced plans to introduce the PGA Tour to new venues across the United States. Ten of the fifteen courses required for the 2028 Championship Series, which will all feature halfway cuts, have already been identified.
A uniform points system will be used to determine an individual champion for the series before the traditional end-of-season Tour Championship.
The Tour Championship itself will transition to a matchplay format and rotate among different locations instead of remaining at its customary site at East Lake in Atlanta.
Promotion, Relegation, and Competition Rules
Although exact details are still being established, 20 golfers from the Challenger Series will be promoted to the Championship Series at the conclusion of each season.
Additionally, four to six "last chance" tournaments will be held in the autumn, allowing players facing relegation an opportunity to retain their Championship status.
Players competing in the Championship Series will be prohibited from participating in Challenger Series events during the same season.
"We think for the integrity of what we're delivering to our tournament partners that it was important to do that," Rolapp explained.
This restriction may result in fewer star players appearing in the lower-tier events. At the recent US Open, Rory McIlroy expressed concern that the new structure could resemble "a glorified Korn Ferry Tour," which currently serves as a low-profile feeder circuit to the PGA Tour.
Reactions from Players
Despite concerns, the Masters champion welcomed the announcement, describing it as "a positive step for professional golf."
"As more details emerge, it is encouraging to see the PGA Tour reaffirming the importance of meritocracy and creating a structure that will serve both players and fans well," McIlroy stated.
He also supported the addition of overseas events following the main season, in partnership with the DP World Tour.
"The commitment to elevate some of these historic international tournaments and national opens is incredibly important for the game," the Northern Irishman added.
Last week, McIlroy had remarked that the PGA Tour's structure prior to the 2022 emergence of the breakaway LIV tour "was actually pretty good."
Future Outlook and Economic Considerations
Rolapp emphasized that the changes planned for 2028 are essential for the tour's sustainability.
"If you're competing for media dollars, which is the economic lifeblood of every sport in this country, you need to be constantly improving the product," he said.
"I think we looked around and we saw what we need to do to increase fans' attention and create more value for our partners and felt this was necessary."
Tiger Woods won 82 times on the PGA Tour
