Full Breakdown
PGA Tour Unveils Proposed Two-Track Schedule for 2028
6/4/2026, 10:25:08 PM
Proposed Competitive Structure
The PGA Tour is evaluating a two-track model that would separate tournaments into a primary “Track 1” tier and a secondary “Track 2” tier beginning in the 2028 season. Track 1 is expected to comprise 15 to 18 regular events plus the four major championships and the Players Championship. Track 2 would operate as a season-long circuit whose top performers could earn promotion to Track 1 for the following year. The model envisions a clear promotion pathway for the top 90 players on the Track 1 points list and an additional 20 to 30 spots for Track 2 qualifiers, not counting ten players who may join from the DP World Tour.
Background and Rationale
The proposal stems from the Future Competition Committee, created in August 2023 to drive “significant change” in the Tour’s competitive format. Committee members argue that recent reductions in field sizes and the rise of no-cut events have weakened the sport’s meritocratic foundation. Re-introducing larger fields and a promotion-relegation system is presented as a means to restore competitive balance.
Key Figures and Governance
CEO Brian Rolapp leads the initiative and will present further details after the June 22 board meeting. The Future Competition Committee includes player directors Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, and executives Joe Gorder, John Henry, and Theo Epstein. Tiger Woods, the committee’s chairman, announced on March 31 that he is stepping away to focus on recovery after a legal incident. The PGA Tour’s policy board, not the Player Advisory Council, must approve any structural changes.
Data and Statistics
- Track 1 events: 15 – 18 regular tournaments + 4 majors + Players Championship.
- Expected field size for Track 1: 120 – 130 players per event, with 36-hole cuts.
- Top 90 players retain Track 1 status annually.
- Track 2 promotion slots: 20 – 30 per season, plus 10 DP World Tour entrants.
- Purse levels: $20 million for standard Track 1 events; $25 million for the Players Championship.
Official Statements & Responses
Rolapp indicated that the Tour expects “more meaningful progress” by summer and plans a press conference at the Travelers Championship after the June 22 board vote. He emphasized that the changes aim to restore a “competitive meritocracy” that has been eroded by smaller fields and no-cut formats. The policy board’s pending vote will determine whether the two-track system proceeds.
Criticism & Opposition
Eighteen-time major champion Jack Nicklaus expressed concern that the current schedule clusters too many signature events, risking player fatigue and reduced tournament distinctiveness. He called for a discussion with Rolapp and former commissioner Jay Monahan to address the timing of high-profile tournaments. Additional player feedback has highlighted apprehension about eliminating sponsor exemptions and limiting Track 1 players’ access to Track 2 events.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether mid-season promotions from Track 2 to Track 1 will be permitted. Field-size figures remain “still being considered,” and the exact number of off-weeks planned between majors and the Players Championship has not been finalized.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We expect to make more meaningful progress by this summer, and following our June 22nd board meeting, I plan to host another press conference at the Travelers Championship,” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO
- “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
- “work toward lasting recovery” — Tiger Woods, Chairman, Future Competition Committee
- “I want to sit down with Brian and [former PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan] and have that conversation. I hate to see tournaments bunched too much together with too many big tournaments too close together. That's a problem, I think, and I think that's going to be a problem for the tour in the future.” — Jack Nicklaus, 18-time major champion
What’s Next
The policy board is scheduled to vote on the two-track proposal on June 22, ahead of the Travelers Championship. If approved, the Tour plans to announce detailed implementation steps later in the summer, with the new schedule slated to launch for the 2028 season.
