PGA Tour: Format shake-up featuring promotion and relegation in two-series structure revealed for 2028 season

The PGA Tour will feature promotion and relegation from the 2028 season as part of a two-tier series format after a major shake-up of its structure was approved.

The top-level competition will be known as the PGA Tour Championship Series and feature the leading players going head to head in 23-24 events per year, with the regular season running from approximately February to August.

That will run concurrently with the lower PGA Tour Challenger Series, with a structure of promotion and relegation in place between the two each season.

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Rumours of the proposed changes were first unveiled at The Players Championship in March, when incumbent tour commissioner Brian Rolapp, explained that the tour was considering the 'two-track system'.

The Championship Series tournaments will feature 120-player fields with 72 holes and a 36-hole cut. They will feature the $20m purses which are used for the current limited-field Signature Events, of which there are eight in 2026.

Players are not required to play them all and those tournaments will not have sponsor invitations or an alternate list.

The PGA Tour Championship Series will include 15 regular-season events in addition to The Players Championship, the four majors, the Tour Championship - which will form part of a "reimagined" post-season including some form of match play - and, depending on the year, the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup.

Reacting to the news, world No 2 Rory McIlroy said in a statement: "Today's announcement is 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 into the future.

"Over the last few years, golf has faced a period of uncertainty and division, which has not been in the best interests of the players, or the fans of the game. Today, we are putting the fans first, and I am excited about the future of our sport."

Tiger Woods, who appeared in a professional capacity for the first time since he was arrested following a car accident in February, chaired the Future Competition Committee, which recommended the new structure to the PGA Tour boards and was approved on Monday.

Woods wrote on X: "This is an exciting moment for the game of golf.

"It has been a privilege to lead the Future Competition Committee, and I am proud of the work we have done to build the best version of the PGA Tour for future generations of players and fans."

The PGA Tour says it has lined up 10 of its expected 15 regular-season events, with the remaining tournaments to either be filled by existing events or new venues such as Boston, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

The PGA Tour Challenger Series will be the primary pathway to the Championship ‌Series, offering players the chance to advance to the top of the sport across a minimum of 20 events running concurrently with the leading series. These events will be played on traditional PGA Tour courses.

There will be 144-player fields and minimum purses of $4m at each event, while around seven of the tournaments will be played on weeks the top series is not in action.

In a letter to fans, PGA Tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp said: "Today marks a pivotal moment for the PGA Tour as we move forward with a new competitive system, starting in the 2028 season.

"Throughout this process, we have listened closely to players, partners and our fans. You told us you wanted to see the best players in the world competing against one another more often.

"You wanted clearer stakes as the season unfolds. And you wanted a more dramatic finish to the season that rewards excellence and makes every tournament matter.

"This new model is our response."

Leading players from the Championship Series will also be eligible for a limited series of elevated international events in the autumn with the intent to be delivered in partnership with the DP World Tour.

McIlroy added: "The commitment to elevate some of these historic international tournaments and national opens is incredibly important for the game and something I'm very supportive of."

Rolapp said the PGA Tour will now work to finalise the changes for 2028.

How will promotion and relegation work?

The PGA Tour says the ability to move between the two series will create "true meritocracy" of competition.

The series will each feature bespoke points systems. The Championship Series will have a consistent points system across every event, in a change from the current rules, while the Challenger Series' system will also include bonus points for major performance and events played on weeks the top series is not in action.

The top 90 players in the Championship Series will retain membership at the top level for the following season, with the rest running the risk of relegation.

The top 20 finishers in the Challenger Series standings will be promoted to the Championship Series.

Those who fail to retain their Championship Series membership during the regular season could then retain it via the "last chance" series of four to six events held during the autumn, when a "limited number" of spots in the top series will be up for grabs.

Championship Series players who fail to do so will then drop down to the Challenger Series.

Challenger Series players can also earn an immediate mid-season promotion if they win multiple events in the same season at that level or a major championship.

Rolapp named as new PGA Tour commissioner

Rolapp, who was appointed as the PGA Tour's CEO in June 2025, will now succeed Jay Monahan as the next commissioner of the PGA Tour.

He'll become the fifth PGA Tour commissioner in the circuit's history, having previously enjoyed a 22-year spell working as an executive at the NFL.

"I am grateful for the trust the boards have placed in me for the opportunity to serve the PGA TOUR and our membership as Commissioner," Rolapp said.

"Over the past year, we have made meaningful progress by prioritising our fans and working collaboratively - with our players, our partners, our boards and the Future Competition Committee - to strengthen our foundation and shape what comes next."

Rolapp will officially take on the new role on January 1, with outgoing commissioner Monahan set to leave his role on December 31.

"It has been an honour to serve as Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and to work alongside our players, partners and leadership team during a transformational period for our sport," Monahan said.

"The progress we have made was driven by a willingness to evolve and the shared commitment to do what is best for the future of the TOUR. Brian is the right leader for this moment, and I am confident the PGA TOUR's best days are ahead."

The PGA Tour heads to TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship this week, live on Sky Sports. Watch round one from 12.45pm on Thursday on Sky Sports+ Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

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