Rory McIlroy Calls PGA Tour Challenger Series a 'Lateral Move'

Rory McIlroy said he does not view the PGA Tour's newly announced Challenger Series as a step up for players currently competing on the DP World Tour, calling the move lateral during a press conference ahead of the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

What did McIlroy say about the Challenger Series?

The PGA Tour announced sweeping changes Tuesday to its competitive structure, splitting into a Championship Series and a new second-tier Challenger Series beginning in 2028. McIlroy, a dual member of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, was asked how the change affects DP World Tour players who might be offered Challenger Series cards.

"I don't see any reason why a DP World Tour player would go to the Challenger Series," McIlroy said. "I don't see that as an upward move in your career. I see it more as like a lateral move."

How will the new two-tier system work?

The Championship Series will feature 24 events beginning in 2028, anchored by the Players Championship, the four majors and the playoff events. The Challenger Series becomes a separate, 144-player circuit with smaller purses and its own pathway up to the top tier.

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have not finalized how many Challenger Series cards will go to the DP World Tour's top finishers each year, a detail McIlroy said remains under discussion as part of the tours' strategic alliance.

I see it more as like a lateral move.

McIlroy added that the number of cards extended to DP World Tour players should reflect whether the move actually represents progress in a player's career, saying he believes "a lot of players would feel similarly" about the Challenger Series compared with staying on the DP World Tour.