America 250: Bobby Jones
Born on March 17, 1902 in Atlanta, Georgia, Bobby Jones became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the US Amateur at the age of 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the “Grand Slam” by winning the US Open, British Open, US Amateur and British Amateur in the same year. He retired from competitive golf at the age of 28, at the height of his career. Jones later co-founded Augusta National Golf Club and helped create the Masters Tournament, which began in 1934.
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Seismic changes are coming to the PGA Tour with a completely revamped model and schedule to be implemented starting in 2028.
The introduction of relegation and promotion, two separate series, match play and courses the Tour has never visited are among the many exciting changes the golf world will see in the near future.
While there are still plenty of details to be fully ironed out that will be announced at a later date, the information the Tour formally announced Tuesday painted a pretty clear picture of how different — and exciting — the new structure will be from a fan perspective.
Brian Rolapp is pictured during a press conference with PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp prior to the 2026 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2026 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about the new PGA Tour
PGA Tour Championship Series
- This will be the new top-tier on the PGA Tour, consisting of 23 to 24 events including The Players, the four major championships and international team events. Purses will be at least $20 million.
- Ten of the expected 15 Championship Series regular season events have been completed, with the remaining five to be filled in larger, new markets.
- The field size will average 120 players and all events will feature a 36-hole cut with the top 65 players and tied players on the weekend.
- The Tour Championship, the final of the playoffs, will rotate to different golf courses and match play will be integrated into some format.
- There will be no substitutes or sponsor exemptions for events.
PGA Tour Challenger Series
- The new second tier on Tour that will also be the primary path to the Championship Series.
- At least 20 Challenger Series events will take place, with seven expected to be stand-alone tournaments that will not overlap with Championship Series events. All events will have a 36-hole cut.
- Fields will feature approximately 144 players and carry purses of at least $4 million.
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Tiger Woods of the United States looks towards Brian Rolapp during a press conference with PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp prior to the 2026 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2026 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Relegation and promotion
The championship series will have a points structure and the top 90 players on the points list will be retained and remain in the top tier. Players who finish outside the top 90 will face relegation to the Challenger Series.
At least 20 players from the Challenger Series will be promoted each season, with remaining spots determined through several criteria, including tournament winners, medical extensions, career milestones and a new “last chance” series.
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The last chance series, which will take place in the fall, will consist of four to six events to determine the final spots in the following season’s Challenger Series.
The PGA Tour Qualifying School will still take place, but before the Last Chance Series offers players to win their way to the Challenger Series.
Important things about the Tour’s sweeping changes
One could easily argue that there has long been a two-tier system on the PGA Tour. Putting it in writing only adds intrigue and, most importantly, clarity.
Jay Monahan (Commissioner of the PGA TOUR) shakes hands with Brian Rolapp as it is announced that Rolapp will be the next Commissioner of the PGA TOUR effective January 1, 2027 during a press conference with PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp prior to the 2026 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2026 in Connecticut. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
You have a top-tier system and a second-tier system. Players who play well in the top-tier system stay there, play for big purses and stay at the top of the best circuit in professional golf. The second-tier system rewards the best players with a chance at promotion, but also features tournaments with $4 million purses where the ‘middle’ player, even in the Challenger Series, can comfortably make a living.
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In terms of clarity, that’s something PGA Tour fans have never been used to with the various iterations of the FedEx Cup Playoffs over the years. Not only will the introduction of match play make things as straightforward as possible, but it is also the format that golf fans have been clamoring for since the WGC match-play event was taken off the schedule after the 2023 edition.
Many small details still need to be put in place, but the vision has been presented and it is a complete renewal of the PGA Tour.
