PGA Tour revamps PGA Tour University rules ahead of 2028's two-series model

The PGA Tour announced Tuesday sweeping changes to its eligibility and membership categories for its two-series model, which begins in 2028.

Among those are updates to PGA Tour University, one of the Tour’s most successful programs for the best players in college golf.

The No. 1 finisher in the standings each year will earn PGA Tour Championship Series membership after that year’s NCAA Championships, along with an additional season of membership. This follows current protocol as well, with the top finisher earning a PGA Tour card.

There have been a couple of updates, however. Nos. 2-5 in the yearly PGA Tour U ranking will earn membership on the PGA Tour Challenger Series following the NCAA Championship through the next season. In addition, any player who achieves and accepts PGA Tour U Accelerated will receive membership on the PGA Tour Challenger Series.

PGA Tour U was built to fast-track talent. It’s now helping shape the Tour’s future

Only three players have earned status through Accelerated, including Jackson Koivun, and they previously all earned a spot in the top league. Now, they’ll be on the Challenger Series, with only one card each year up for grabs to make it to the Championship Series.

Since these changes don’t begin until 2028, that means the Class of 2027 will have similar rules to what has been standard in previous years. The No. 1 player in the final 2027 PGA Tour U ranking will earn PGA Tour membership for the remainder of the current season and Championship Series membership for 2028. Nos. 2-10 in the final 2027 ranking will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the remainder of the current season, following the conclusion of the NCAA Championship, and the top-five performers on the 2027 total points list will earn PGA Tour Challenger Series membership for 2028.

PGA Tour CEO has been adamant about the importance of PGA Tour University for the Tour’s future. On Tuesday, with the blueprint laid out for the future, he backed up his words and showed the program is going nowhere.

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour revamps PGA Tour University rules ahead of 2028’s two-series model