ATLANTA – Spots in the PGA Tour’s 2028 Championship Series are filling up fast, and PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp seemed to send a signal to sponsors Tuesday at his State of the Tour address.
Act now or miss out.
Seven events have already been announced as part of the new upper tier that will debut in 2028. Rolapp said Tuesday that four additional tournaments have been identified, with announcements expected in the coming weeks.
That leaves four regular-season tournaments remaining to be filled for the 2028 schedule. Rolapp said the Tour has 14 prospective partners currently engaged in discussions.
“It’s a high-class problem,” Rolapp said. “We’re glad we have it.”
The in-the-works Championship Series largely mirrors the signature event schedule from this year, with The Sentry, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Cadillac Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship already receiving elevated status. The Greensboro Open has signed on for 2028, and a new event, the Sompo, will be elevated to that top tier in 2028 and likely played on the West Coast.
As Rolapp and the rest of the Future Competitive Committee sort through their options for the remaining four stops, he said they’re looking not just at the title sponsor but also the quality of the host venue and the ability of the surrounding community to support a significant event.
“It’s a testament to the strength of the PGA Tour, and I think it’s a validation of where we’re going,” Rolapp said.
Rolapp said the entire Championship Series lineup is expected to be unveiled in a televised special on Feb. 22.
Once the top circuit is secured, Rolapp’s team will then begin work on locking in sponsors for the secondary Challenger Series. He said the Tour has received “unsolicited inbound interest” from sponsors and that he’s “optimistic” about the level of demand.
A significant portion of that schedule is expected to be released by next year’s Players and ultimately finalized by the playoffs.
“This timeline,” he said, “is well ahead of the Tour’s traditional schedule announcement cadence and is intended to provide our members and partners with greater clarity as they prepare for the 2028 season, while giving fans the opportunity to plan ahead, attend events and follow the world’s best players.”
