Rory McIlroy is unconcerned about the impact of the PGA Tour’s new membership criteria on DP World Tour players. The PGA Tour announced a two-tier promotion-and-relegation structure starting in 2028, featuring the PGA Tour Championship Series and PGA Tour Challenger Series. Top 90 golfers retain Championship Series membership, with 20 promoted from the Challenger Series. Two-year exemptions go to major or Players winners.

Currently, the top 10 in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai earn PGA Tour cards, but the PGA Tour hasn’t confirmed future allocations. It said access for DP World Tour top performers is under discussion as part of the Strategic Alliance.

Ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy said: “No. I don’t think so… I don’t see any reason why a DP World Tour player would go to the Challenger Series. I don’t see that as an upward move… it’s a very lateral move.”

McIlroy believes talks focus on how many Championship Series cards to award DP World Tour players, creating a viable alternative to the Challenger Series.