PGA Tour changes incoming
PGA Tour CEO Rolapp Details New Model with Expanded Fields, Restored 36-Hole Cuts
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PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed on June 3, 2026 that the Tour is building a new "two-track" model set to launch in 2028. The plan would expand elite event fields from roughly 72 players to 120–130 players and restore 36-hole cuts to all top tournaments — a direct reversal of the no-cut, small-field "Signature Event" format that has drawn widespread criticism. AP reported Rolapp made the announcement at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.
"At the end of the day, sports is about how good the athletes are and what the competitive consequences are," Rolapp said, according to Yahoo Sports. "I think we have lost a lot of that with the smaller field, no-cut events."
How the Two-Track System Would Work
Under Rolapp's plan, the Tour splits into two tiers. Track 1 holds roughly 16 elite events, plus the four majors and The Players Championship. Track 2 is a developmental level where players compete to earn promotion to Track 1. The top 90 players in FedEx Cup points keep their Track 1 status each year. An additional 20–30 spots open annually for players promoted from Track 2, with 10 spots reserved for top DP World Tour performers, according to WRAL.
The return of the 36-hole cut is central to the model. Right now, only three Signature Events — the Genesis Invitational, the Memorial, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational — have a cut. Under the new system, every Track 1 event would have one. Rolapp noted the cut makes more sense when fields grow from 72 to 120-plus players, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Signature Events Created the Problem Rolapp Now Wants to Fix
The Signature Event format was born out of crisis. When LIV Golf launched in 2022, the PGA Tour created small-field, no-cut events with $20 million purses to keep top stars from leaving. It worked — but it squeezed out mid-tier players who lost access to big points and big money. Fans also complained the format lacked drama. The cut, long a cornerstone of professional golf, was gone from most big events.
Rolapp, a former NFL executive who joined the Tour in June 2025, set up the Future Competition Committee in August 2025 to rethink the schedule. Tiger Woods chairs that group. On March 11, 2026, Rolapp delivered a "State of the Union" address laying out six guiding goals, including consistent field sizes and a return to meritocracy, according to King5.
Smaller Purses in Track 2 Could Bring Back Priced-Out Sponsors
Track 2 events will carry smaller purses than Track 1's $20 million benchmark. That is by design. Rolapp said some sponsors have been "priced out" of the current Signature model and would welcome a more affordable tier to attach their brand to professional golf. He expressed confidence that willing sponsors exist at a lower price point, according to News4Jax.
Rolapp has also invited all PGA Tour broadcast partners — including CBS, NBC, and ESPN — and even non-contracted outlets to weigh in on a new media rights deal. The Tour is racing against the clock. The sports rights market is worth an estimated $30 billion annually, with the NFL alone claiming $12 billion. Rolapp has warned the Tour must act before NFL deals in 2029–2030 consume the rest of the market, according to ClickOrlando.
What Comes Next Before the 2028 Rollout
The PGA Tour Policy Board must approve the new structure before anything is official. Some elements could arrive as early as 2027, but the full model is not expected until 2028. That timeline allows for commercial and broadcast contracts to be realigned. The postseason is also being overhauled — Rolapp is exploring adding match play to create "win or go home" moments that broadcasters want, according to WZZM13.
Not everyone is fully on board yet. Jack Nicklaus, host of the Memorial, warned against cramming too many events close together. "I hate to see tournaments bunched too much together," he said. "I think it's harder for your tournaments to stand out." Still, Rory McIlroy expressed cautious support, saying he would "back myself to finish in that top 100 even if I play a limited schedule," per Yahoo Sports Canada.
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