Rory McIlroy calls PGA Tour Challenger Series a 'lateral move' from DP World Tour players
Rory McIlroy argues the new PGA Tour Challenger Series is a lateral move rather than a career upgrade for pros on the DP World Tour.
Rory McIlroy recently commented on the PGA Tour's plans to create the Challenger Series as a pathway to the Championship Series. During a press conference ahead of the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the golfer joked that someone was bound to ask about the Tour's announcement. When asked specifically about the strategic alliance with the DP World Tour and the number of cards the top DP World Tour finishers would receive, McIlroy expressed his thoughts on the Challenger Series.
He stated that in his opinion, a DP World Tour player would not see the Challenger Series as an upward move in their career, but rather a lateral move. McIlroy, who is a dual member of both tours, believed that it was unreasonable to allocate many cards to DP World Tour players for the Championship Series and questioned whether the PGA Tour was trying to create a viable alternative to the Challenger Series.
The new format will feature 24 events, with the Players Championship, the four majors, and playoff events being a major part of the schedule.
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