Rory McIlroy is facing a potential ban from the Scottish Open in 2028 under the PGA Tour's new format, which restructures the tour into Championship and Challenger series. The 37-year-old Northern Irish golfer, currently competing to win the event at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, has urged PGA Tour bosses to ensure tournaments like the Scottish Open are not diminished by the new rules.
McIlroy's Stance on the New Format
McIlroy, a six-time major winner, is aiming to clinch the Scottish Open title for the second time in his career, having last won it in 2023. The event serves as an ideal warm-up for some of the sport's leading stars ahead of The Open later this month. McIlroy is part of a highly competitive field that includes 14 of the world's top 20 players, all vying for the £1.17 million winner's purse.
However, the PGA announced last month that the tour will be split into the Championship series, which would include McIlroy and other top-ranked names, and the Challenger series. As part of the format, due to be rolled out in 2028, Championship events will have a minimum prize pot of £14.9 million ($20 million), far exceeding the Scottish Open's current £6.7 million ($9 million) total. Under the restructure, as a Championship golfer, McIlroy would not be allowed to enter Challenger events.
McIlroy's Plea to PGA Tour Bosses
"We've got to be careful with that because then these national opens lose the fabric of what they are," McIlroy said. "You can't call yourself a national open any more if it's a closed-off tournament and there's a certain number of guys. These events need to be treated differently than the Travelers Championship or RBC Heritage or whatever else is going to be in the Championship series."
Impact on the Scottish Open
The Scottish Open currently permits PGA Tour and DP World Tour players to compete against each other. The PGA's new plans would limit PGA golfers to their respective series, though any player who wins two Challenger circuit events in the same season would be promoted to the Championship level. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has echoed McIlroy's stance on wanting to continue being eligible for the Scottish Open in 2028. "It needs to work within the new schedule," Scheffler said. "It's an important one that we keep it in the Championship Series just because you get so many guys that come over here and play the week before [The Open]."
Upcoming Schedule
The Scottish Open got underway on Thursday and will run until Sunday at the Renaissance Club. The golfing world will then turn its attention to The Open, which will be held at Royal Birkdale next week.
