Tiger Woods Leads Reform Plan
Tiger Woods, chair of the PGA Tour Future Competitions Committee, has confirmed a major redesign of the tour starting in 2028. He explained that the goal is to build a stronger competition structure by bringing different ideas together and improving the overall game.
Woods made the announcement at a press conference ahead of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. It was also his first public appearance after a period of recovery following a car crash in Florida.
Two Tier Competition System Introduced
The new structure will divide professional golf into two levels under the PGA Tour.
The top level will be called the Championship Series. The second level will be known as the Challenger Series.
The Championship Series will feature the world’s leading players competing in fields of 120 players. Each event will offer at least 20 million dollars in prize money. Players will need to perform well across the season to maintain their status, with only the top 90 keeping full membership at the end of the year.
Promotion and Relegation System Explained
The Challenger Series will run alongside the main tour. It will have smaller prize funds starting at around 4 million dollars per event.
Players who win two events in a single season on the Challenger Series will earn automatic promotion to the Championship Series.
This system introduces clear movement between levels based on performance, creating higher pressure and stronger competition across both tiers.
Season Structure and Schedule Changes
The redesigned season will include around 23 or 24 tournaments. It will run from January through August and will also include the four major championships.
The aim is to create a more focused calendar with stronger fields in each event and more meaningful competition throughout the season.
Global Golf Structure Still Under Discussion
Key details are still being finalized, including how the PGA Tour will work with international partners. The relationship with the DP World Tour is under review as their strategic agreement approaches renewal.
Officials have suggested that international events, including national opens, could become part of the autumn schedule in future seasons.
