The PGA Tour on Tuesday unveiled a dramatic overhaul of professional golf in the United States that will see the circuit divided into two distinct structures.

Under the new system, which will be launched in 2028, the tour will comprise a lucrative PGA Tour Championship Series of around 23-24 events which will include the majors and international events such as the Ryder Cup.

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A second tier of at least 20 events — the PGA Tour Challenger Series — will run alongside the Championship Series, offering golfers the chance to secure a pathway to the elite circuit.

A system of player promotion and relegation between the two tiers will also be introduced.

It means an end to the small field, no cut signature events that had divided the golfing world and were seens as a direct response to the threat of LIV Golf.

The shake-up is the result of a working group from the PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee, chaired by Tiger Woods, which has been studying ways of revitalising golf.

“From day one, the focus of the Future Competition Committee has been to build the best version of the PGA Tour, and to do so in a way that reflects the voice of our players and the expectations of our fans,” PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp said in a statement.

“The result is a new competitive model grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together.

“This model positions the PGA Tour for the future, and our focus now shifts to finalizing the details and preparing for implementation in 2028.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: The season ending format is set to change.Source: Getty Images

News of the impeding changes sparked a sceptical response from Rory McIlroy who referred to it as a “glorified Korn Ferry event” when questioned at the US Open last week.

Rolapp said he and McIlroy have since talked.

“We think we’ve just organized the same tour into a much more interesting and competitive system,” Rolapp said.

“If you look at the Challenger Series events, they’ll be at venues you recognize. They’ll be for healthy purses, which we announced today. They’ll include a subset of the same 200 and change players that we have today. That is much different than what the Korn Ferry Tour is today.”

Each PGA Tour Championship Series event will boast a purse of at least $20 million with fields of 120 players, with a 36 hole cut to the top 65 and ties.

The series, which will run in a season stretching from February to August, will also feature a new-look postseason with the introduction of match play and a new-look Tour Championship played across a rotation of courses.

Leading players from the PGA Tour Championship Series will also be eligible for a limited series of “elevated international events” organised in conjunction with Europe’s DP World Tour, the PGA Tour said.

This appears to be a major boost for the Australian Open, which is almost certain to be one of those elevated events. The PGA Tour announced earlier this month an agreement to help elevate the Australian Open through 2029.

As per the agreement, the PGA Tour is committed to “significantly” boosting prize money for the Australian Open, and opening a distinct window that makes it more appealing for top players to feature.

The initial announcement fell short of an outright co-sanctioning, stating that it was only a “partnership” with the PGA Tour. The Australian Open is instead co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

However, should the Australian Open be confirmed as an ‘elevated international event’ under the new PGA Tour structure, its official status could change.

Challenger Series events, meanwhile. will feature minimum purses of $4 million. The PGA Tour said the top 90 finishers out of 130 players in the Championship Series will be exempt for the following season, while those finishing outside the top 90 could face relegation to the Challenger Series.

A minimum of 20 players from the Challenger Series will be promoted to the Championship Series the following season.

Woods, appearing for the first time since entering rehab, introduced Rolapp to announce the changes.

“I think having Tiger involved was a tremendous asset and a privilege,” Rolapp said.

“His insight into the game as a player but also being around it his whole life, the respect he has earned from fans, from his fellow members, from partners is invaluable. So, his leadership has been tremendous. We’re fortunate to have him.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the FedEx Cup in 2022.Source: Getty Images

THE BREAKDOWN

PGA TOUR Championship series:

– 23 to 24 events (including majors, Playoffs, team events), approximately 130 players eligible, fields expected to average 120

– No sponsor exemptions

– 36-hole cuts

– Top 90 are safe each season, the rest are at risk of relegation

– Played from February-August

– Purses of at least $20 million

PGA TOUR Challenger Series:

– At least 20 events

– Played concurrently with Championship Series

– Fields of 144

– Purses of at least $4 million

– 36-hole cuts

– Top 20 get promoted to Championship Series at end of the year

– Elevated events that are played during Championship Series off weeks

– Championship Series players are not eligible

– “Last chance” series at end of season for rest of membership (including potentially relegated Championship Series members) to earn a spot on Championship Series