PGA Tour Changes for 2028 Include Match Play and 36-Hole Cuts

The PGA Tour announced a 2028 competitive overhaul featuring a Championship Series with no sponsor exemptions and a match play postseason.

The PGA Tour announced sweeping changes Tuesday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, establishing a new competitive model set to debut in 2028. Under CEO Brian Rolapp, the circuit will implement a two-track system featuring a Championship Series and a $4 million purse Challenger Series. The Championship Series will return to larger fields and 36-hole cuts, while eliminating sponsor exemptions, alternate lists, and Monday qualifying. These PGA Tour changes aim to restore a strict meritocracy where on-course results dictate status, mirroring promotion and relegation structures found in European soccer leagues.

Brian Rolapp, the former NFL executive who will succeed Jay Monahan as commissioner at the end of the year, pushed these updates through with the help of the Future Competition Committee. This group included 15-time major champion Tiger Woods and former Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein. The 2028 season is expected to feature up to 24 regular-season events with uniform points distribution to determine a season-long champion. Rolapp noted that this simplified standings system removes the "tax code" complexity currently found in the rankings, prioritizing the celebration of the regular-season winner.

Match Play Postseason and Prestigious Venues

A primary component of the 2028 overhaul is a revamped postseason centered on match play. This format was selected following feedback from fans and partners who requested more head-to-head competition. While the specific format for the finale remains under development, the tour plans to host these events at prestigious venues that have not previously hosted PGA Tour events. Potential locations discussed include exclusive sites like Cypress Point and Pine Valley, or public major venues such as Chambers Bay and TPC Harding Park. Rolapp also suggested the possibility of building new championship courses similar to TPC Sawgrass to accommodate these high-stakes matches.

Championship Series Logistics and Market Expansion

The Championship Series will consist of 15 signature events, with 10 locations already identified. The eight current signature events are expected to remain on the schedule, including an opener potentially at Pebble Beach Golf Links or Riviera Country Club in California to secure primetime television slots for East Coast viewers. Sentry has already committed to sponsoring the tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego. The remaining five spots will be filled by existing events or by expanding into major media markets such as Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

International Alliance and Fall Schedule

Golfers who fail to retain eligibility for the Championship Series will move to a "last chance" series in the fall, consisting of four to six U.S.-based events. This period will also feature co-sanctioned international opportunities through a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour. Potential tournaments in this window include the BMW Championship, the Irish Open, and the Dunhill Links at St. Andrews. There is also consideration for moving the RBC Canadian Open to the fall schedule. These international events are intended to serve global fans and provide a platform for stars like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jordan Spieth to compete in national opens outside the United States.

Economic Sustainability and Media Rights

The tour is positioning these changes ahead of its media rights deal expiration in 2030. Policy board chairman Joe Gorder informed players on Tuesday morning that the circuit has 18 months to finalize the nuances of the framework. Lucas Glover, a longtime tour member, emphasized the need for volatility and perfection in the points system to avoid the frequent format changes that previously affected the Tour Championship. Despite the $20 million purses for Championship Series events, Rolapp expressed confidence in the economic model, citing unsolicited financial offers and inbound interest from prospective partners. This shift occurs as the rival LIV Golf League faces uncertainty following the loss of financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.