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Xander Schauffele reacts to the PGA Tour’s new two-tier system after ‘hectic’ few years

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Xander Schauffele continues his search for a maiden PGA Tour win of 2026 this week as he takes on the Travelers Championship.

Notably, however, CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed major changes to the PGA Tour that will be implemented from 2028 when he spoke before the tournament started.

They primarily involve a two-tier system based on meritocracy, comprising the Championship Series and the Challenger Series.

Also speaking ahead of the Travelers Championship, 10-time PGA Tour winner Schauffele has given his immediate reaction to the new-look system.

What do you make of the planned changes to the PGA Tour?

What do you like? What concerns you about the changes?

Xander Schauffele welcomes PGA Tour changes

Schauffele said on Sirius XM: “It’s nice though to think that this is going to be, whatever it ends up being, will be what golf will be for at least until I’m done playing.

“I think these last three or four years have been a little hectic.

“You don’t really know… you know what you’re playing for, but at the same time, you just don’t know what’s going to happen.

“You know you kind of make a joke like, ‘oh it’s just going to change next year if it’s not good’.

“So it is nice to sort of be in a spot where they’re trying to finalize some framework, and that’s for the future and generations to come.”

Xander Schauffele in action during the second round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills
Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

Ben Griffin predicts ‘incredible’ PGA Tour product

Schauffele’s fellow PGA Tour player Ben Griffin has also given his thoughts on the new and hopefully improved system, for players and fans alike.

The American said: “I think it’s going to be super competitive.

“It’s going to be an incredible product.

“It’s going to be easier to follow as a fan, which I think is good.

“I know my first couple of years on tour, I had a lot of friends that didn’t quite understand the system, didn’t understand the stakes.

“We didn’t, even as a player sometimes, I didn’t even know what I was playing for.

“And I think it’s going to be very clear and set what everyone’s going to be playing for and what the stakes are, and I think that’s going to make an incredible product.

“But yeah, as for right now, there’s just a lot of unknowns, and it’s going to be a little bit different than usual, so a lot of guys might be skeptical, and I think we’re just going to have to see it play out, and I think it’s going to end up being incredible.”

Like Schauffele, Griffin has yet to win on the PGA Tour in 2026, but he was one of the standout players last season.

He claimed all three of his career wins in 2025, triumphing at the World Wide Technology Championship, the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Griffin is also in the field for the Travelers Championship, which takes place at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.

Read more: The biggest issue PGA Tour players had with new schedule that they raised privately with Brian Rolapp