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Tiger Woods introduced PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp at a monumental news conference for the organization Tuesday morning, marking the 15-time major champion’s first official appearance since his March DUI arrest in Florida and his overseas rehab stint that followed.
Woods has served as a leader on the Tour’s Future Competition Committee, which he called a “privilege” during his brief introduction by Rolapp.
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Woods was arrested and charged with DUI for damage to property and refusal to submit to a lawful test following his involvement in a two-car rollover on March 27 near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Authorities said Woods appeared lethargic and found hydrocodone pills on him at the scene, even though he blew “triple zero” on a breathalyzer test.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club looks on during the match against Los Angeles Golf Club at the SoFi Center on March 23, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (James Gilbert/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
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Woods pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge and after being granted permission on April 1 to leave the country to enter inpatient treatment. It is understood he entered a rehabilitation stay in Zurich, Switzerland.
The PGA Tour officially endorsed a series of recommendations from the Future Competition Committee that will bring about significant changes to the circuit’s structure beginning in 2028.
Tiger Woods watches his son Charlie Woods play during the first round of the US Junior Amateur at Brook Hollow Golf Club on July 21, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The new model will feature two concurrent running series – a Championship Series and a Challenger Series – that will feature the promotion and relegation of players. The championship series will feature approximately 23-24 events with fields of approximately 120 players, running from February through August. The tour announced that 10 of its projected 15 PGA Tour Championship Series events for 2028 have been lined up.
The Challenger Series will feature larger fields of approximately 144 players, and tournaments will be played concurrently with Championship Series events. Championship Series players will not be eligible to step down and compete in Challenger Series events.
Brian Rolapp, CEO of the PGA Tour, speaks to the media prior to THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
The tour stated that at least the top 90 players (out of approximately 130 championship players) will be fully exempt for the following season. Players who fail to maintain membership may risk relegation to the Challenger Series. At least 20 players from the PGA TOUR Challenger Series will be promoted to the Championship Series for the following season.
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The Tour’s Fall Series will turn into a “last chance” series that will feature four to six events, with a limited number of Championship Series spots for the following season available as players look to improve—or maintain—their status.
The Tour’s postseason will also get a major facelift, starting in 2028, with the introduction of match play and the Tour Championship, revolving around “prestige courses”, many of which the Tour has never hosted a tournament.
