The PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council was “briefed” on CEO Brian Rolapp and the Future Competition Committee’s vision of a “reimagined tour, including the circuit’s move to ‘Track 1′ and ‘Track 2′ events for the 2028 season." Sources said that the current plan is to “have 15 to 18 Track 1 events as well as the four major championships.” Estimates for field sizes for the upper tier events would be 120-130 players, although that number is “still being considered.” There are currently eight signature events, The Players Championship, and sources say that the Tour “plans to reduce the number of playoff events to two, leaving roughly four to seven spots for additional events on the Track 1 schedule” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/3).
Under the proposal, the top 90 golfers in the season-long points standings “would retain” their Track 1 status the next season. Golfers competing in Track 2 would be “fighting to be elevated” to Track 1 the next season. There would be about 20-30 spots available per season, not including 10 golfers who would “join the PGA Tour from the DP World Tour.” The tour is “still working out” whether Track 2 golfers could be promoted to Track 1 during the season. Track 1 golfers would be “prohibited from dropping down” to Track 2 events, although that has not ”been finalized” (ESPN.com, 6/3).
Rolapp on Wednesday said that the finished product “probably won’t be ready until 2028 and would be a system ‘that outlives any player.’” Rolapp said sports are about “how good the athletes are and what the competitive consequences are.” He noted fans will “see that in Track 2,” adding he believes golfers will be “fighting to stay on Track 1.” Rolapp: “We have lost a lot of that with the smaller field, no-cut events” (AP, 6/3).
