The PGA Tour is preparing to implement a two-tier competition structure beginning in 2028, a change that has raised questions about the future of two prominent tournaments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Club in Fort Worth and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in McKinney have not yet been assigned to specific tiers.
The Tour plans to announce final event locations and tier placements during the first quarter of 2027.
Smiley Kaufman, a golf analyst, voiced concerns on The Smylie Show regarding the potential placement of these events. Kaufman noted that the Dallas market is larger and commercially attractive, suggesting the Tour may prioritize investment there. However, Kaufman argued that forcing players to compete in a lower-tier event at Colonial would be detrimental to the venue's historical significance.
"So that would be very, very, very, very weird to me to have a Challenger Series event at Colonial," Kaufman said.
The proposed 2028 model divides the tour into a Championship Series and a Challenger Series. The Championship Series will include 23 to 24 events, featuring the majors and The Players Championship. These tournaments will offer purses of $20 million with fields of approximately 120 players. The top 90 players will retain their status annually under this elite tier.
The Challenger Series will consist of at least 20 events with purses around $4 million and larger fields. This tier serves as the primary pathway for promotion to the top level. At least 20 players will earn promotion each year, while multi-time winners and major champions may receive immediate elevation. Players who underperform in the Championship Series face relegation to the lower tier.
Sponsors of events in the lower tier may face financial challenges under the new structure. Because elite players cannot compete in the Challenger Series, these events will feature smaller purses and less star power. Some sponsors have expressed hesitation, comparing the lower tier to the Korn Ferry Tour and questioning the value of investing $5 million to $15 million in events with weaker fields.
