Seattle in PGA Tour’s 2028 Expansion Plans

The PGA Tour announced on June 23 that beginning in 2028 it will run two concurrent circuits: the top-tier PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series, which will allow players to move between the tiers. The change, driven by the Future Competition Committee formed in August 2025, is described by CEO Brian Rolapp as a “significant change” aimed at expanding the schedule to more cities. Ten of the fifteen Championship Series events have been identified, and Seattle is listed among larger markets under consideration for one of the five remaining slots. The full 2028 lineup is slated for release in early 2027, with the Tour Championship set for Aug. 27-30 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Seattle Times

Two Seattle-area courses have surfaced as candidates. Chambers Bay, which hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and several amateur championships, could be revisited despite mixed player feedback on its greens. Sahalee Country Club, the site of the 1998 PGA Championship, is also cited by executives as a possible venue. The existing Boeing Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, has been noted as a factor that could complicate scheduling for a primary PGA Tour event.

Seattle Times

Rolapp emphasized that the restructuring seeks “significant change” and highlighted Seattle as a target market, according to an ESPN report. B.R. Koehnemann, director of corporate communications for KemperSports (operator of Chambers Bay), said the company is unable to comment on a potential PGA event. Likewise, Kipp Johnson, general manager of Sahalee Country Club, declined to comment on any discussions with the PGA Tour.

Seattle Times

Player criticism of Chambers Bay’s greens resurfaced after the 2015 U.S. Open, with Henrik Stenson likening them to “putting on broccoli” and Rory McIlroy describing them as “more like cauliflower.” The issues stemmed from a mix of fescue and poa annua grasses, a prolonged dry spell, and a subsequent switch to bluegrass that forced a six-month closure in late 2018.

Seattle Times

• “significant change.” — Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO

Seattle Times

• “putting on broccoli.” — Henrik Stenson, professional golfer

Seattle Times

• “they’re more like cauliflower.” — Rory McIlroy, professional golfer

Seattle Times

• “Koehnemann, director of corporate communications for KemperSports, which operates Chambers Bay, said the company is unable to comment on the matter of a potential PGA event at the course.” — B.R. Koehnemann, Director of Corporate Communications, KemperSports

Seattle Times

• “Kipp Johnson, general manager of Sahalee Country Club, said the club had no comment on whether it is in discussions with the PGA as well.” — Kipp Johnson, General Manager, Sahalee Country Club

Seattle Times