Zurich Classic could be dropped to secondary status in 2028

Key Points:

• The PGA Tour will introduce a two-tier tournament model starting in 2028, dividing events into a premier championship series and a secondary challenger series, with promotion and relegation based on player performance.
• The championship series will include 23-24 events featuring top players, including the four majors and other prestigious tournaments, with minimum purses of $20 million and 120-player fields.
• The Zurich Classic, a long-standing New Orleans event, risks being relegated to the challenger series, which would exclude elite players like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, potentially diminishing its status and player field.
• The challenger series will consist of about 20 events with smaller purses of at least $4 million, larger fields, and opportunities for players to earn promotion by winning twice or finishing in the top 20 on the points list.
• Additional changes include a reimagined rotating season-ending championship, a new postseason match play event, a designated regular season champion, a defined Tour card retention system, a later season start, and a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour.