PGA Tour to Introduce Relegation System in 2028, Will Operate Two Series

Approval of New Tournament Format Proposed by the Future Competition Committee
Tournaments to Be Split into Championship and Challenger Series

The PGA Tour will introduce a relegation system starting with the 2028 season.

On June 23 (local time), the PGA Tour announced that its board of directors had approved the tournament format for the 2028 season as proposed by the Future Competition Committee. This new operational plan divides tournaments into upper and lower groups and centers on the introduction of a relegation system.

The PGA Tour will implement a relegation system starting in 2028. Photo by PGA

PGA Tour tournaments will be split into the Championship Series, featuring the top-ranked players, and the Challenger Series, featuring lower-ranked players. The Championship Series will take place from February to August and will consist of 23 to 24 tournaments, including the fifth major—The Players Championship—along with the four major championships and international team competitions such as the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. Each tournament will have a minimum total prize fund of $20 million. Approximately 120 players will compete in each event, without alternates or sponsor exemptions.

Except for a few events, the Challenger Series will run concurrently with the Championship Series and will feature around 144 players. About the top 90 players from the Championship Series are guaranteed entry into the following season. Those who do not qualify will be relegated to the Challenger Series. Twenty players from the Challenger Series will advance to the Championship Series the following season.

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