PGA Tour Details New Championship and Challenger Series Structure for 2028

Starting in 2028, winners of Championship Series events and majors will earn 300 points under a new flatter points curve.

The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday a new competitive structure for 2028 consisting of the Championship Series and the Challenger Series. Under a revised points system, winners of Championship Series events, The Players, and the four major championships will receive 300 points. Runners-up in these tournaments will earn 200 points, while third-place finishers will receive 150 points. The new model emphasizes a flatter curve that rewards both top finishes and making the cut.

Membership for the inaugural 2028 Championship Series will be granted to the top 70 golfers from the final 2027 FedEx Cup points list and the top 95 players from the FedEx Cup Fall points list. Golfers finishing Nos. 96-175 in the 2027 Fall standings will earn membership in the Challenger Series. Players can also secure 2028 Championship Series access by earning a two-year exemption during the current season through a tournament win or a top-30 FedEx Cup finish. A one-time career money exemption is available for those in the top 50 of the career money list at the end of 2027, provided they play at least 15 events that year.

The Challenger Series will serve as the primary feeder circuit, featuring fields of 144 golfers. Players can earn mid-season promotion to the Championship Series by recording two victories on the Challenger track. Each season, the top 20 performers from the Challenger Series will be promoted to the top tier. Relegated Championship Series winners will receive a four-year exemption on the Challenger circuit. Additionally, a new "last chance" series in the fall will offer three Championship Series cards across at least four tournaments.

Pathways for new talent include PGA Tour University, where the top-ranked golfer following the NCAA Championships earns eligibility for the Challenger Series for two seasons. Q-School will continue to provide five Challenger Series spots to its top finishers. For Challenger events held during the same week as Championship tournaments, open qualifying will offer two spots per field. The tour boards are currently reviewing how to integrate DP World Tour players into this framework.