FedEx reacts after PGA Tour snubs St. Jude Championship from new 2028 Championship Series

FedEx has expressed disappointment after the PGA Tour confirmed this week that the annual FedEx St. Jude Championship will not be included in the new top-tier Championship Series when golf’s biggest schedule overhaul arrives in 2028.

The Memphis-based tournament has been one of the PGA Tour’s most prominent events in recent years, becoming the opening tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs since 2022. 

However, despite its elevated status, it will not form part of the new elite Championship Series designed to showcase the PGA Tour’s biggest events and strongest fields.

FedEx, which has been one of the PGA Tour’s longest-standing commercial partners, acknowledged the decision was disappointing but insisted its commitment to Memphis and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital remains unchanged.

“While we are disappointed the FedEx St. Jude Championship will not be part of the new Championship Series, we are encouraged by their plans to find other opportunities to bring professional golf to Memphis,” FedEx said in a statement.

“Regardless of the tournament's next chapter, our commitment to Memphis is unwavering. We will find new ways to partner with St. Jude to advance their mission, and we will continue making new investments in this great city we call home.”

The PGA Tour’s decision leaves questions over the future role of the tournament and the FedEx Cup itself when the new competitive model begins.

Under the revamped structure, which was confirmed to the golfing world at the Travelers Championship in June, players will be divided between two separate levels of competition. 

The Championship Series will feature the PGA Tour’s premier events for the very best players on the circuit, while the Challenger Series will provide opportunities for players lower down the pecking order. 

The new system will also introduce promotion and relegation, creating a pathway for players to move between the two tiers based on their performances.

The PGA Tour earlier this week announced five tournaments that will be part of the Championship Series, including the Travelers Championship, Sompo Championship, The Sentry at Torrey Pines, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Cadillac Championship.

The elite series will also include all four majors, The Players Championship, a redesigned postseason and an annual team event featuring either the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup depending on the season.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship, however, has not made the cut. 

The FedEx St. Jude, which takes place next week, is currently the first stop in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and it welcomes the top 70 players in the standings to famed TPC Southwind.

The tournament remains under consideration for inclusion in the Challenger Series, which is expected to feature around 20 tournaments and act as a feeder level for the Championship Series.

Despite the blow, the PGA Tour has attempted to reassure fans and partners that Memphis will continue to have a place within its future plans.

“As we prepare for the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week and again in 2027, we remain in close conversation about the future of our partnership,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.

“We are grateful to FedEx for all it contributes to the sport, and the positive impact they make in the community, including in Memphis with St. Jude.

“As we implement a new competitive model and map out our schedule for 2028 and beyond, we believe Memphis is well-positioned to remain part of the PGA Tour.”

FedEx’s involvement with the PGA Tour has grown into one of golf’s most significant sponsorship partnerships. 

The FedEx Cup has gone through a number of different format changes through the years, but it first began in 2007.

Rory McIlroy is a record three-time winner of the FedEx Cup, with Tiger Woods the only other player with two wins. 

Tommy Fleetwood is the defending FedEx Cup champion following his three-stroke victory in the Tour Championship at East Lake last August, a victory that remains the Englishman's sole title on the PGA Tour. 

FedEx not only supports St. Jude Championship and the PGA Tour's season-long race, including bonus pools and prize funds connected to the Playoffs, but also does great work for charity.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship has reportedly raised more than $80 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital since 1970, and in addition to its own tournament, FedEx's overarching partnership with the PGA Tour has generated more than $65 million specifically through the FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

FedEx also funds an annual $100 million bonus pool distributed among the leading players in the FedEx Cup standings, while the FedEx St. Jude Championship itself features an annual $20 million prize purse, with the winner each time receiving $3.6 million.

England's Justin Rose will defend his title at the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind from 13-16 August. 

Memphis has hosted PGA Tour golf ever since 1958, with the FedEx St. Jude Championship previously becoming a World Golf Championship (WGC) in 2019 before moving into the FedEx Cup Playoffs three years later.

The tournament at TPC Southwind has produced memorable finishes, including Rose defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff last season, but attendance challenges during hot August conditions have also been noted.

Other recent winners of the tournament include Hideki Matsuyama, Lucas Glover and Will Zalatoris. 

With the PGA Tour still finalising its full Championship Series and Challenger Series schedules for 2028, the future of the FedEx St. Jude Championship remains unresolved.

For now, FedEx’s message is clear: while the sponsor is disappointed by the decision, its relationship with Memphis and commitment to supporting the community will continue regardless of where the tournament lands in the PGA Tour’s new era.