PGA Tour adding new series for final shot at status in 2028 — with a wrinkle

The PGA Tour’s new two-tiered competitive model, which debuts in 2028, will offer pros one last chance to play for the big bucks by earning a top tour card.

The Tour announced on Tuesday that it will develop a “last chance” series of a minimum of four events in the fall with three cards available for the Championship Series. And those events will take on great significance to the competitors, who will either be playing for purses of $20 million if they finish top 3 in the standings or have to spend at least a year playing on the Challenger Series for purses of $4 million.

The Tour has inserted an interesting wrinkle in the requirements: Players will be required to participate in all events in the series to earn a Championship Series card, pending any medical exclusion.

The series will be contested after the annual Qualifying Tournament (Q-School) and will begin in the fall of 2028. Eligible players are as follows:

• PGA Tour Championship Series Relegated
  • Players relegated from the Championship Series the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

• PGA Tour Challenger Series Retained

  • Nos. 21-90 from the Challenger Series Points List in the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

PGA Tour Championship Series Relegated

• Players relegated from the Championship Series the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

Players relegated from the Championship Series the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

PGA Tour Challenger Series Retained

• Nos. 21-90 from the Challenger Series Points List in the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

Nos. 21-90 from the Challenger Series Points List in the season immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

• 20 Players Promoted from Korn Ferry Tour
  • The 20 players promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour.

• PGA Tour University Current Season

  • Nos. 2-5 in the PGA Tour University Ranking in the current season, following the conclusion of NCAA Championship.

• PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (Q-School)

  • The top 5 finishers from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

20 Players Promoted from Korn Ferry Tour

The 20 players promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour.

• Nos. 2-5 in the PGA Tour University Ranking in the current season, following the conclusion of NCAA Championship.

Nos. 2-5 in the PGA Tour University Ranking in the current season, following the conclusion of NCAA Championship.

PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (Q-School)

• The top 5 finishers from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

The top 5 finishers from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament immediately preceding a “last chance” series.

Essentially, it is one last shot at redemption for Championship Series players who otherwise will be relegated, and a chance for those rising to the Challenger Series or who failed to finish in the top 20 during that season to be promoted to the top of the food chain.

All eligible players will be eligible for every event, with no alternate list.

Adam Schupak is a senior writer at Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.