Greensboro Joins PGA Championship Series in 2028 Under Raymond James Sponsorship

The PGA Tour event at Sedgefield Country Club will transition to the elite Championship Series in 2028, rebranding as GO by Raymond James.

Sedgefield Country Club will host a top-tier Championship Series event in 2028 as the PGA Tour elevates its long-standing Greensboro, North Carolina, tournament. This transition introduces Raymond James as the new title sponsor for the competition, which will officially be rebranded as GO by Raymond James. The 2028 schedule overhaul places this event among roughly two dozen elite tournaments where top performers will compete for $20 million prize funds. This move marks a significant shift from its previous identity as the Wyndham Championship, a title it held since 2007.

While the specific 2028 dates remain undetermined under the revamped calendar, the tournament is scheduled to maintain its traditional slot next year from August 5-8. This upcoming iteration serves as the final event before the PGA Tour postseason begins. The shift to the Championship Series places Greensboro in a bracket alongside five other already announced venues: The Sentry, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Cadillac Championship, the Travelers Championship, and a new tournament sponsored by Sompo.

Heritage and Rebranding at Sedgefield

The tournament’s new name, GO by Raymond James, serves as a direct nod to its historical roots. The event originally debuted in 1938 under the moniker of the Greater Greensboro Open. Despite the name change and the elevation in status, the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation will continue to manage the tournament operations. Paul Shoukry, CEO of the Florida-based wealth management firm Raymond James, characterized the sponsorship as an investment in the future of the firm and the PGA Tour's new leadership vision.

A Two-Tiered Tournament Structure

The 2028 PGA Tour framework will distinguish between the high-stakes Championship Series and a secondary "Challenger Series." The Championship Series is reserved for the highest-ranking players and includes the major championships, The Players Championship, and the postseason events. In contrast, the Challenger Series will feature smaller purses for the remainder of the professional field. Greensboro’s inclusion in the former ensures it remains a destination for the sport's premier talent seeking the $20 million payouts.

Future Outlook for North Carolina Golf

By securing a spot in the elite tier, the Greensboro stop solidifies its position within the revamped professional golf landscape. The tournament has evolved from its 1938 inception through various sponsorship eras to become one of only six confirmed non-major Championship Series events for 2028. The Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation leaders were cited by Shoukry as a primary reason for the firm's confidence in the multi-year commitment. As the tour transitions toward this $20 million prize fund model, the specific logistics for the 2028 Greensboro dates will be finalized as part of the broader schedule reorganization.

Financial and Strategic Implications

The $20 million purse represents a substantial increase in the financial stakes for participants at Sedgefield. This capital injection is part of a broader strategy to consolidate the world's best golfers into a concentrated schedule of high-value appearances. Raymond James, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, enters this agreement as the PGA Tour seeks to stabilize its commercial partnerships amidst evolving global competition. The firm’s commitment ensures that the Piedmont Triad remains a central hub for professional golf for the foreseeable future.

Organizational Continuity

While the branding and financial tier of the event are undergoing a radical transformation, the operational core remains intact. The Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation’s ongoing involvement guarantees that the local community impact and charitable contributions, which have been a staple since the 1930s, will persist. This stability was a key factor for the new title sponsor when evaluating the long-term viability of the Greensboro market. The transition from the Wyndham era to the Raymond James era marks the beginning of a new chapter in the tournament's 90-year history.