PGA Tour: Billy Horschel backs decision to scrap sponsor exemptions in 2028

Billy Horschel has backed the PGA Tour's decision to eliminate sponsor exemptions from the "Championship Series" in 2028. 

Sponsor exemptions have long been one of the most debated aspects of the elite men's game, but scrutiny has intensified since the introduction of the PGA Tour's limited-field signature events in 2022. 

With elevated purses, guaranteed FedEx Cup points and pathways into future signature events, some players have complained that those accepting exemptions have a leg up on other golfers fighting to keep hold of their Tour cards. 

It's also not gone down well that sponsors exemptions have gone to several members of the PGA Tour's players advisory council and established stars who failed to qualify through standard criteria. 

Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler and Peter Malnati have all been criticised. 

But sponsor exemptions into the PGA Tour's top tier will be a thing of the past in 2028, according to chief executive and incoming commissioner Brian Rolapp. 

Rolapp confirmed the change on Tuesday as he unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the PGA Tour's competitive structure.

Horschel, who has accepted sponsor exemptions in the past, told Golfweek that he agreed with the decision. 

"I've been a beneficiary of sponsor exemptions but at the end of the day I think it would be easier for everyone to have it go away and be more of a merit-based system and straight go off the current FedEx Cup points list to fill the field," he said.

For his part, Rolapp said the feedback he has received since joining the Tour last June was that meritocracy was extremely important.  

"Golf has an amazing tradition of meritocracy, probably the best sport in the world that I can see about you earn what you earn and you do it inside the ropes and you're rewarded for it, and our athletes are conditioned that way," he said.

"I think we got away from that. One thing we heard consistently from fans and partners and even members of the PGA Tour, we need to get back to the meritocracy. I think this system delivers on that promise."

What changes are coming to the PGA Tour in 2028?

Rolapp spoke to the media on Tuesday alongside Tiger Woods to outline what can be expected in two years' time.

From 2028, the PGA Tour will be divided into a top-level Championship Series and a feeder Challenger Series. 

Players will switch between the two based on their performance. 

Both tiers will run concurrently, featuring field sizes of at least 120 players and contested over 72 holes with a cut at the halfway stage.

The top tier will have purses of $20m. 

Golfers who win twice on the Challenger Series receive automatic promotion. 

Elsewhere, the Tour Championship format will be replaced by a match-play format and will rotate venues. 

The PGA Tour will also begin to add in events in markets it has not traditionally served, such as Boston, Denver and Seattle. 

Yet to be determined is the PGA Tour's relationship with the DP World Tour and whether LIV Golf players can return to the fold.