The PGA Tour is rolling out its new two-tier Championship Series format for the 2028 season, comprising around 15 high-stakes regular-season events alongside the established four major championships, the Players Championship, and playoff events. The first two confirmed Championship Series tournaments are the Travelers Championship, a $20 million signature event held annually at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, and a new Sompo-backed event, whose location will be announced later. This revamped structure guarantees minimum $20 million purses for PGA Tour-operated events and introduces a second-tier Challenger Series featuring at least 20 tournaments with $4 million minimum purses each, running from February through August with promotion and relegation between the two levels.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized that the total number of events will remain at 47, serving the same pool of approximately 230 players, but organized into a more competitive and fan-friendly format. Sponsorship investment for Championship Series tournaments is substantial, with companies like Sompo committing at least $30 million annually to support the elevated tier. Along with the Travelers and the Sompo event, established majors and the Players Championship will be part of the top-level series, while the exact number of playoff tournaments remains to be finalized.

Although only two regular-season Championship Series events have been officially announced, many of the current signature events from the 2026 season are expected to join the top tier. These include prominent tournaments such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational hosted by Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Memorial Tournament, among others. The Genesis Invitational faces logistical challenges due to Riviera Country Club hosting the 2028 Olympics and the 2031 U.S. Open, though Genesis has extended its sponsorship through 2030. Other events like the Sentry at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open may also ascend to the Championship Series, with the PGA Tour eyeing expansions into new markets like New York, Boston, and Chicago.

Events not moving into the Championship Series are expected to form the Challenger Series, which will maintain numerous tournaments with lower purses and continuing sponsor partnerships, such as The American Express, Zurich Classic, and the Valspar Championship. Meanwhile, “opposite field” events with smaller purses, such as the Puerto Rico Open and the Corales Puntacana Championship, may also join the Challenger Series. The PGA Tour’s fall schedule will feature select elevated international events in partnership with the DP World Tour and a “last chance” series that offers opportunities for players to qualify for the following year’s Championship Series.