Zurich Classic Could Slip From PGA Tour’s Elite Tier in 2028 Restructure

The PGA Tour unveiled a two-tier Future Competition model for 2028, splitting events into a Championship Series (top players and majors, larger purses) and a Challenger Series (smaller purses, lower-profile players). The Zurich Classic’s status as a premier tour event could be downgraded to the Challenger tier, ending elite participation for stars and reshaping New Orleans’ 88-year-old tournament. The plan includes merit-based promotion, bigger fields, a minimum $20 million purse per event, a revamped season finale, a postseason match-play event, and a DP World Tour alliance, with final details due in 2027.