The PGA Tour is getting a major overhaul. The tour announced Tuesday that it has approved a sweeping new competitive structure set to debut in 2028, splitting events into two distinct series and introducing a formal promotion and relegation system for the first time.
The changes were approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board during meetings in West Hartford, Connecticut, on Monday, following recommendations from the Future Competition Committee chaired by Tiger Woods.
“The result is a new competitive model grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together,” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said. “This model positions the PGA Tour for the future.”
The Two Series Explained
The PGA Tour 2028 model centers on two separate tracks running concurrently throughout the season.
The PGA TOUR Championship Series sits at the top, featuring up to 24 events including 16 signature events, The Players Championship, the four major championships, season-ending events, and the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup. The season runs approximately February through August.
Every Championship Series event will carry a minimum purse of $20 million, with fields of around 120 players, no sponsor exemptions, and 72-hole stroke-play format with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 and ties.
The tour has already identified 10 of its 15 expected Championship Series regular-season events for 2028. The current eight signature events are expected to remain, with new markets under consideration including Boston, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
Below that sits the PGA TOUR Challenger Series, the primary pathway to the top track. It will feature at least 20 events with purses of at least $4 million, fields of approximately 144 players, and the same 72-hole format with a 36-hole cut. About seven elevated Challenger Series events will be played during Championship Series off weeks, carrying increased points and consequences.
Promotion, Relegation and Pathways
The PGA Tour 2028 structure introduces a clear promotion and relegation system. At least the top 90 finishers in the Championship Series points standings will retain their status for the following season. A minimum of 20 players from the Challenger Series will earn promotion each year. Winning two Challenger Series events in the same season earns immediate promotion, as does winning a major championship.
Players who fall short of retaining Championship Series status will have a final opportunity through a “last chance” series of four to six events played in the fall. Those who still fail to regain their status will compete in the Challenger Series the following season.
Q-School will continue to provide developmental pathways into the broader tour ecosystem.
The Postseason Gets a Shake-Up
The Tour Championship will move away from its permanent home at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta after 2027 and rotate to prestigious venues, including courses the PGA Tour has never played before, such as Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, Cypress Point Club in California, and Seminole Golf Club in Florida. The revamped postseason will also introduce match play.
Tiger Woods’ Role
Tiger Woods, chairman of the Future Competition Committee, played a central role in driving the changes alongside Patrick Cantlay, Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, Adam Scott, and Camilo Villegas, as well as strategic business advisors Joe Gorder, John Henry, and Theo Epstein.
“This work was bigger than any one player or person,” Woods said. “It was about designing the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour for the future generations of fans and players.”
