Rory McIlroy has given his full backing to the PGA Tour’s decision to introduce a new competitive model that will begin in 2028 and feature a two-tiered system.
According to the US-based circuit, the PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series will establish a true meritocracy with a formal structure for promotion and relegation.
The Championship Series will feature the top players competing head-to-head, driving a season narrative that identifies the best golfer in the world.
The Challenger Series will be the primary pathway to the Championship Series offering players the chance to advance to the top of the sport.
McIlroy fully endorsed the change, releasing a statement that described it as “a positive development for professional golf”.
It reads: “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 I’ve always been proud to compete around the world, and the collaboration between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour is one founded in the betterment of the game globally.
“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.
“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.”
Rory McIlroy: ‘We are putting the fans first, and I am excited about the future of our sport’
The Championship Series will run from approximately February through August and feature 23-24 events with minimum purses of $20m (€17.6m), including the four majors, Players Championship, season-ending events and team events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. The fields will be 120 players, on average.
The PGA Tour said new markets under consideration for the remaining events yet to be filled on the Championship Series include Boston, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.
Full eligibility criteria will be finalised by the PGA Tour later this year, including select additional exemptions for categories like tournament winners, medical extensions and career milestones. There will be no sponsor exemptions.
The Challenger Series, which will run concurrently to the Championship Series, will have a minimum of 20 events with $4m (€3.5m) purses and feature emerging talent along with players fighting their way back to the top. Fields will be filled to 144 players.
The new competitive structure introduces true promotion and relegation, with a minimum of 90 players retained on the PGA Tour Championship Series and 20 players promoted from the PGA Tour Challenger Series each season.
In addition, two-time winners on the Challenger Series will earn immediate promotion to the Championship Series. There will also be a ‘last chance’ series of four to six events where a limited number of spots on the Championship Series for will be available.