PGA Tour will have an elite tier and outlines the path to get and stay there

Key Points:

• The PGA Tour will implement a two-tier model starting in 2028, with the elite Championship Series tournaments given equal status to the four majors and The Players Championship, and a new Challenger Series as the secondary tier.
• Exemptions for winning majors, The Players, and the FedEx Cup will be reduced from five years to two years on the Championship Series, plus an additional two years on the Challenger Series; winners of Championship Series events also receive two-year exemptions on the top tier.
• Eligibility for the Championship Series includes the top 90 players from the previous season, top performers from the Challenger Series, recent winners, and medical exemptions, while the Challenger Series will feature players relegated from the top tier, Korn Ferry Tour graduates, and others.
• A new “Last Chance Series” in the fall will offer Challenger Series players the opportunity to earn one of three spots back on the Championship Series by competing in a minimum of four events.
• The PGA Tour is negotiating with the European tour regarding the integration of top DP World Tour players into the Championship Series, with Rory McIlroy emphasizing the importance of direct access to the top tier for these players.