In PGA Tour schedule shakeup, a playoff host won’t be in Championship Series

PGA Tour is preparing for a significant overhaul of its schedule, set to take effect in 2028. One of the most surprising consequences of this reform will be the exclusion of Memphis from the elite Championship Series. The city, which has hosted PGA Tour tournaments since 1958 and a FedEx Cup playoff event since 2022, will cease to be part of the top tier of American golf.

The schedule shakeup, first reported by The Memphis Commercial Appeal, was confirmed in official statements from the PGA Tour and FedEx, a long-time Tour sponsor and title partner of the current Memphis event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This tournament will be played in its familiar format for the next two years, including 2027, but its role in the calendar will then change.

The decision to exclude Memphis from the elite series comes two months after the PGA Tour announced the creation of the Championship Series, a new structure that will bring together 23-24 of the most prestigious tournaments featuring top players. In parallel, a lower tier, the Challenger Series, will also exist. The sponsorship deal between the PGA Tour and FedEx, covering both the Memphis event and the season-long points race and playoffs, expires at the end of 2027.

In its statement, FedEx expressed "disappointment" that the FedEx St. Jude Championship would not be part of the new Championship Series. Both parties, however, hinted at the possibility of PGA Tour events being held in Memphis in the future.

"As the PGA Tour continues to evolve its competition structure and schedule, we understand their vision for the future and appreciate the longstanding partnership over the last 40 years," the FedEx statement read. "While we are disappointed the FedEx St. Jude Championship will not be part of the new Championship Series, we are encouraged by their plans to find other opportunities to bring professional golf to Memphis. Regardless of the tournament’s next chapter, our commitment to Memphis is unwavering. We will find new ways to partner with St. Jude to advance their mission, and we will continue making new investments in this great city we call home."

The PGA Tour added: "FedEx has been a wonderful partner since 1986, with our relationship evolving and innovating over the years. As we prepare for the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week and again in 2027, we remain in close conversation about the future of our partnership. We are grateful to FedEx for all it contributes to the sport, and the positive impact they make in the community, including in Memphis with St. Jude. As we implement a new competitive model and map out our schedule for 2028 and beyond, we believe Memphis is well-positioned to remain part of the PGA Tour. TPC Southwind is a premier venue in our TPC Network and remains an important asset to the Tour. We look forward to sharing more as plans take shape."

The future of sponsorship for the Tour's points race and playoffs remains unclear. A Tour spokesperson stated that the organization is in "close conversation with FedEx and other sponsors about future opportunities."

As a reminder, in June, the PGA Tour announced the creation of the Championship Series, which will include 15 regular-season events, four majors, The Players Championship, an annual team event (Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup), the Olympics (once every four years), and the Tour Championship as part of a "reimagined postseason." According to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, 10 of the 15 regular-season events have already been lined up.

Over the past few days, five of these events have been named: the Travelers Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Sentry (to be held at Torrey Pines), the Cadillac Championship (held for the first time this year), and the Sompo Championship. The latter will replace the event in Napa, California, in 2027, and in 2028 will become part of the Championship Series at a venue to be announced later. The Challenger Series, in turn, will feature at least 20 tournaments, and Memphis could become a host location for one of them.

"I think the reason for change has been pretty clear," Rolapp said in June. "I think if you talk to our fans, if you talk to our partners, they are all looking for improvement. The source author learned one thing in my old job: innovation is extremely important if you want to move a sport forward. I think the PGA Tour is different.

We also exist in a very competitive sports world. Whether it's competing for fan attention or competing for media dollars, which are the economic lifeblood of every sport in this country, you need to constantly improve the product. We looked around and saw what we need to do to attract more fan attention and create more value for our partners, and felt this was necessary."

Rolapp is expected to hold another press conference later this month at the Tour Championship.