PGA Tour Drops FedEx St. Jude Championship From Top Tier

Overview

• The PGA Tour confirmed Wednesday that the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind will not be part of the Tour’s top‑level Championship Series when the new model begins in 2028.
• The tournament remains under consideration for the Tour’s new Challenger Series, a lower tier of roughly 20 events with larger fields and purses of about $4 million or more that can promote players into the Championship Series.
• FedEx called the decision disappointing but said it will continue to support Memphis and St. Jude; the company’s current sponsorship deal that covers the Memphis event and the season‑long points race runs through the end of 2027.
• The Tour said the 2026 and 2027 FedEx St. Jude Championship will proceed under existing arrangements, and officials expect to release the full 2028 schedule, including Challenger slots, in late January.
• Memphis faces potential economic and charitable impacts from losing top‑tier status after decades of hosting PGA Tour golf, and the change could reduce field size, prize money and the postseason spotlight that has driven local fundraising and tourism.