Scottie Scheffler was still absorbing the PGA Tour’s new two-tiered system Wednesday on the eve of the first round of the Travelers Championship, where his primary focus was on attempting to win the event for the second time in three years.
“I have had a little time to digest it. I don’t really have a ton to say about it, but I think we’re moving in the right direction for sure,” the World No. 1 told reporters at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
The PGA Tour announced Tuesday there will be two tracks — the Championship Series and the Challenger Series — starting in 2028.
The Championship Series will have up to 24 events, including 16 signature events, the four major championships, The Players Championship, the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, as well as a reimagined playoff that will involve some version of match play and a rotation of courses. Events will have a minimum $20 million purse, a 120-player field and 36-hole cuts, with the season running from February through August.
Roughly the top 90 players in the points list from the Championship Series will retain their membership the following season. Another 20 will be promoted from the Challenger Series, which will serve as the path to the Championship Series. The Challenger Series will include at least 20 events with 144-players fields and minimum $4 million purses.
Scheffler discussed the future Tour changes one day before he tees it up at the Travelers Championship, an event he won in 2024. He finished T6 last year.
“I think what people want is to get the best players playing together more often. I’m not sure if the smaller fields were a huge fan favorite, so getting fields back to 120-man fields, getting a cut back, I think it’s a good changes,” said Scheffler. “The more I think we can simplify it for people, the better.
“I think it’s really good. I think it’s easier for our fans to follow. Hopefully it will make them more interested. I think the competition will get better. I think when you look at larger fields it will be much harder to win tournaments, it will be different than the old days on Tour where you could win a tournament where there wasn’t many of the top players playing. I think starting in 2028 there’s a Tour win in the Championship Series? Championship Series? Championship tournaments?”
Championship Series, Scheffler was reminded.
“See, still digesting,” he said. “When you win one of those tournaments they will have some serious significance to it because you’ll have beaten pretty much all of the best players in the world in order to do it. So I’m excited about it. I think the competition will get better, play good golf courses and play against the best players in the world. I mean, for a player, I don’t think you could really ask for much more.”
Scheffler is coming off a T4 finish at the U.S. Open, where he played in the final group at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday with champion Wyndham Clark.
–Field Level Media
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