America 250: Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the US Amateur at age 14, showing great promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as amateurs, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the “Grand Slam” by winning the US Open, the British Open, the US Amateur and the British Amateur in the same year. He retired from competitive golf at age 28, at the peak of his career. Jones later co-founded the 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 set 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 many details to be worked out, which will be announced at a later date, the information officially announced by the Tour on Tuesday painted a pretty clear picture of how the new structure will be different – and exciting – 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 by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about the PGA Tour’s new look
PGA Tour Championship Series
- It will be the new top tier of the PGA Tour, consisting of 23 to 24 events, including The Players, the four major championships and international team events. The awards will be worth at least $20 million.
- Ten of the 15 expected regular Championship Series events have been finalized, with the remaining five to be staged in new, larger markets.
- Field size will average 120 players, and all events will feature a 36-hole course with the top 65 players and ties playing on the weekend.
- The Tour Championship, the final of the playoffs, will be held on different golf courses and the match play will be integrated into a certain format.
- There will be no alternates or sponsor waivers for events.
PGA Tour Challenger Series
- The new second tier of the Tour which will also be the main route to the Championship Series.
- At least 20 Challenger Series events will take place, seven of which are expected to be standalone tournaments that will not overlap with Championship Series events. All events will feature a 36-hole course.
- Fields will host approximately 144 players and bring in purses of at least $4 million.
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Tiger Woods of the United States looks to 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 by 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 premier series. Players who finish outside the top 90 will be relegated to the Challenger Series.
A minimum of 20 Challenger Series players will be promoted each season, with remaining spots determined by 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 for the following season’s Challenger Series.
The PGA Tour Qualifying School will still take place, but before the Last Chance Series offering players a chance to earn their spot in the Challenger Series.
Key takeaways about the Tour’s sweeping changes
It could easily be argued that there has been a two-tiered system on the PGA Tour for a long time. By putting it in writing, it only adds intrigue and, most importantly, clarity.
Jay Monahan (PGA TOUR Commissioner) shakes hands with Brian Rolapp as it is announced that Rolapp will become the next PGA TOUR Commissioner 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 Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
You have a first level system and a second level system. Players who play well in the high-level system stay there, play for huge purses and remain at the top of professional golf’s best circuit. The second-tier system rewards top players with a chance for promotion, but also offers tournaments with $4 million in prize money, where the “average” player, even on the Challenger Series, can make a comfortable living.
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As far as clarity goes, it’s something PGA Tour fans have never been accustomed to, with the different iterations of the FedEx Cup Playoffs over the years. Not only will the introduction of match play make things as simple as possible, but it is also the format that golf fans have been clamoring for since the WGC match play event was removed from the calendar following the 2023 edition.
Many details still need to be put in place, but the vision has been laid out and it is a complete overhaul of the PGA Tour.
