If the PGA Tour decides to incorporate a two-tier system into its 2027 schedule — or wait until 2028 — it will not be something new, but rather a blast from the past.
Looking back at the PGA Tour’s 1968 schedule, the first year the Tour split away from the PGA of America, opposite-field events were already part of the program. In early February, the Los Lagartos International was played against the Phoenix Open Invitational. The following week, the Panama Open Invitational served as the opposite-field event to the Tucson Open Invitational.
The Tour even hosted an event directly against the Masters: the Rebel Yell Open. Sponsored by Rebel Yell, a Southern Sour Mash Bourbon, the tournament took place in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a field of 129 professionals and a purse of $20,000.
As Bob Goalby was winning in Augusta following Roberto de Vicenzo’s infamous scorecard mishap, Larry Mowry won the Rebel Yell in a playoff, pocketing $2,800—or 14% of the total purse. According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the tournament drew a paid attendance of just 859 over its four days, raised $2,362.50, and was ultimately unable to channel any profits to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
This was the reality of what was, at times, called a satellite or second-tour event. The money Mowry won that Sunday in Knoxville was not considered official, nor was the victory itself.
Modern Questions for a Two-Tier System
In today's golf world, the money and the win from an opposite-field event would likely be official, but how would the modern infrastructure adapt?
The FedEx Cup: How would the differing point systems be structured?
World Rankings: How would the Official World Golf Ranking address a lesser field with regard to ranking points?
The Ryder Cup: What would the PGA of America do when addressing secondary-tour points for making the Ryder Cup team?
The Schedule: More importantly, which specific events will be relegated to this secondary tour?
“I think there will be a mix of both,” PGA Tour executive Brian Rolapp said regarding Tier 1 and Tier 2 events playing against each other. “I think there will be weeks where they're the only event. I think there will be some that will be opposite just by the nature of the calendar, where we're trying to do more in the summer.”
The Path Forward
The rumor mill has suggested that the Korn Ferry Tour could become history, with Tier 2 fields absorbing KFT players alongside PGA Tour members who don’t qualify for Tier 1. However, none of this has been set in stone. Rolapp also could not commit to how easily players might move between Tier 2 and Tier 1, or whether mid-season relegation would be part of the new program.
By contrast, back in 1968, players faced no such constraints and frequently played across both tiers.
While the future remains unclear, constant meetings between PGA Tour executives and players continue. With the most critical meeting scheduled for Monday, June 22nd, during the week of the Travelers Championship, the path forward will hopefully soon become less muddled.