PGA Tour Unveils 2028 Relegation System With 90 Players Safe and $20 Million Championship Events
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 24
PGA Tour Unveils 2028 Relegation System With 90 Players Safe and $20 Million Championship Events
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 24
Summary
The 2028 overhaul adds annual promotion and relegation, with 90 players retaining Championship Series status and 20 dropping out under a two-track model still being finalized.
Brian Rolapp said the redesign is built around parity, scarcity and simplicity, adding an international fall series, 36-hole cuts at every tournament, a last-chance fall stretch and match play for the Tour Championship.
The plan could narrow surprise pathways for lower-ranked players even as it clarifies schedules and stakes, with battlefield promotion available through two wins or a major title.
DP World Tour stands to gain from elevated international events in the strategic alliance, but key pathway questions remain unresolved for Race to Dubai qualifiers, Korn Ferry Tour players and exemptions.
Details on host sites, exemptions and event assignments must be settled by the end of this season so players understand what they are playing for in 2027.
Is the Tour’s 2028 overhaul a final play against LIV Golf or a blueprint for their eventual unification?
Will the PGA Tour's new elite series make it impossible for Cinderella stories to emerge in professional golf?
Does the new fan-focused model risk alienating the local communities that have long supported its tournaments?
The 2028 PGA Tour Overhaul: Championship and Challenger Series Reshape Pro Golf
Overview
The PGA Tour will undergo a major transformation in 2028 with the launch of a new two-track structure: the Championship Series and the Challenger Series. This overhaul was developed through a collaborative, player-driven process led by the Future Competition Committee, which worked closely with players, leadership, and partners to address the changing sports landscape. The Challenger Series will serve as a strong second tier, offering more events and higher purses, while the Championship Series remains the elite level. PGA Tour leadership believes this new model is the right path to strengthen the Tour’s foundation and ensure a more dynamic, merit-based competition.