Full Breakdown
PGA Tour Unveils Two-Track Competition Model to Expand Fields and Restore 36-Hole Cuts
6/4/2026, 2:56:46 AM
New Two-Track Competition Model (Core Event & Data)
The PGA Tour will roll out a two-track competition structure, with full implementation slated for 2028. Track 1 will include about 16 elite events, each with 120-130 players and a 36-hole cut. Track 2 will be a developmental tier, expanding fields to 120+ participants, offering smaller purses and lower-cost title sponsorship. Mid-season promotion between tracks will be possible based on performance.
Background, Rationale, and Stakeholders
The tour features three signature tournaments with 72-player fields and a 36-hole cut; other events are no-cut with smaller fields. Rolapp says this has weakened golf’s merit-based competition. Since forming a Future Competition Committee in August, the PGA Tour has emphasized scarcity, simplicity and parity. Sponsors, broadcast partners and former LIV Golf players such as Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau are central to the redesign.
Official Statements & Responses
Rolapp told reporters the model is progressing, with finalization set for 2028. Restoring the 36-hole cut, he said, reinforces a merit-based system where players must fight to stay on Track 1. He noted sponsor interest for Track 1 events and lower-cost Track 2 tournaments. Broadcast partners, including non-contracted streaming services, have been consulted as the tour works on a new media-rights deal, with a full update scheduled for June 23, one day after the next board meeting.
Criticism & Opposition
Rolapp admitted that moving to smaller, no-cut events has “lost a lot of that” competitive fighting spirit. He also cited “scar tissue” from disciplinary issues involving former LIV Golf players, indicating a cautious reintegration approach. These remarks reveal concerns about sponsor appetite for lower-purse events and the difficulty of restoring a merit-based hierarchy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At the end of the day, sports is about how good the athletes are and what the competitive consequences are,” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO
- “The bigger events ... not everyone can afford and may not be sort of consistent with their business goals,” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO
- “I feel good where we are, but I also had expectations that it wasn’t going to be easy,” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO
- “All fans want the best golfers in the world together. I think we have most of them, pretty close to all of them. And we're building a tour that attracts the best players in the world,” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO
What’s Next
Rolapp announced that a full briefing on the two-track model will be released on June 23, following the PGA Tour’s upcoming board meeting. The tour will continue to assign tournaments between Track 1 and Track 2, explore larger markets such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, and finalize a new media-rights agreement. Full implementation remains targeted for 2028.
