Jordan Spieth highlighted an unusual aspect of the PGA Tour's planned two-track system set to begin in 2028 during this week's John Deere Classic.
The PGA Tour announced last week at the Travelers Championship that it will introduce a Championship Series for about 130 players and a Challenger Series starting in 2028. The new structure includes promotion and relegation along with reduced schedules and purses of $20 million for top events versus around $4 million for others.
Spieth, a two-time John Deere Classic winner, pointed out that champions of lower-tier events would likely not return to defend their titles the following year. "That is probably one of the stranger parts of the whole situation because most of the time guys go back to try to defend their titles," he said.
The golfer added that the focus should remain on creating a clear and entertaining product for fans and players. Additional details on the schedule are expected at the Tour Championship in August.
