World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler endorsed the PGA Tour’s 2028 competitive overhaul, saying the move back to larger fields and traditional cuts addresses what fans have been asking for.

Speaking ahead of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, Scheffler offered his first public reaction to the two-tier structure announced by the Tour on Monday.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction for sure,” Scheffler said. “I’m not sure if the smaller fields were a huge fan favourite, so getting fields back to 120-man fields and getting a cut back, I think it’s a good change.”

What the Tour changed

The PGA Tour’s new model, set to begin in 2028, splits the schedule into a Championship Series and a Challenger Series. The Championship Series will feature roughly 120-player fields, 36-hole cuts to the low 65 and ties, minimum purses of $20 million per event, and a season running from February through August. Sponsor exemptions, Monday qualifying, and alternate lists will be eliminated from the top tier.

A promotion-and-relegation system links the two series. The top 90 players on the Championship Series points list retain their status each season, while at least 20 players move up from the Challenger Series. The postseason will include match play and a Tour Championship that rotates among courses rather than returning to East Lake each year.

The changes reverse the limited-field, no-cut Signature Event format used in recent seasons.

Simpler for fans

Scheffler framed much of his support around the fan experience. He said the consistency of seeing the same group of players week to week should make the season easier to follow.

“You’re going to see the same 120 guys most of the time at the same tournaments throughout the season,” Scheffler said. “I think it’s easier for our fans to follow and hopefully it makes them more interested.”

He added: “The more we can simplify it for people, the better.”

Wins that matter more

Scheffler said the deeper fields should raise the competitive bar. With 120 players in each Championship Series event and no entry shortcuts, he expects victories to carry more weight.

“I think the competition will get better,” he said. “When you win one of those tournaments, it will have some serious significance because you’ll have beaten pretty much all of the best players in the world to do it.”

Broader Support

Scheffler was not the only high-profile player to back the overhaul. Rory McIlroy called the announcement “a positive step for professional golf” and said it was encouraging to see the Tour reaffirm the importance of meritocracy.

Players Advisory Committee chairman Lucas Glover struck a more cautious tone, calling the plan “just the foundation” and noting that sponsors, media partners, and television deals still need to be secured.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said the new model was “grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together.” The full 2028 schedule is expected to be announced in early 2027.

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