PGA Tour Will Launch Championship Series in 2028
The PGA Tour will debut a new tournament structure featuring a mandatory $30 million annual sponsor commitment.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Golf
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Starting in 2028, the PGA Tour will launch a new two-tiered system headlined by a Championship Series requiring a $30 million annual financial commitment from sponsors. The tour is currently finalizing event hosts after receiving 14 bids for the four remaining spots in the 15-event series.
Why it matters
The PGA Tour implemented this high-cost threshold to fund a fundamental restructuring of its tournament model. By narrowing eligibility and raising capital requirements, the organization aims to streamline its professional circuit.
The revamped tour schedule will include 15 Championship Series events, each requiring a $30 million annual financial commitment. Eligibility categories will drop from 34 to 7, with the new series featuring 90 players from the points list and 20 from the Challenger Series.
The players
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the primary organizer of professional golf tournaments in the United States and manages the career pathways for top-tier golfers.
FedEx
FedEx is a global courier delivery services company that serves as a major corporate partner and tournament sponsor for the professional golf circuit.
The details
The upcoming Championship Series format will feature 90 players who qualify via the previous season points list alongside 20 golfers promoted from the Challenger Series. Meanwhile, the current FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis is not included in the Championship Series, as the tour pivots toward its new tier system.
Timeline
The PGA Tour's new two-tiered system will officially launch in 2028.
Challenger Series events will be announced in the fall of 2026.
A final decision on remaining event hosts is expected by late 2026.
The 2028 schedule will be unveiled on February 22, 2027.
FedEx's current partnership with the tour expires at the end of 2027.
Season Trajectory
This transition signals a major consolidation of the PGA Tour's competitive tiering, moving away from a broader field structure toward a high-capital exclusive model. The shift fundamentally alters the qualification path for players and changes the venue requirements for tournament sponsors.
With eligibility categories shrinking from 34 to 7, the path for mid-tier professionals to secure a spot in premium events becomes significantly more difficult. The reduction in event slots and changing financial terms will likely lead to major shifts in how future tournament venues and schedules are prioritized.
The takeaway
The PGA Tour is aggressively centralizing its product to maximize sponsorship revenue and competitive intensity. Fans and analysts should watch for which current tournament venues survive the transition to the new $30 million annual sponsorship tier.
What happens next
The PGA Tour is scheduled to announce the full 2028 schedule on February 22, 2027.
Further reading
For more on the changing tournament landscape, visit the Golf section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
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