McIlroy Urges PGA Tour to Shield Scottish Open From 2028 Split as 14 of Top 20 Compete
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 8
McIlroy Urges PGA Tour to Shield Scottish Open From 2028 Split as 14 of Top 20 Compete
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 8
Summary
Rory McIlroy warned the PGA Tour its 2028 two-tier format could strip the Scottish Open of its identity if top Championship players are barred from a national open that now draws elite fields.
From 2028, the PGA Tour plans concurrent Championship and Challenger schedules, with players locked into one tier; the Scottish Open would not meet Championship status under the approved model.
14 of the world’s top 20 are in this week’s field at Renaissance Club, underscoring what could be lost if many big names become ineligible despite the event’s role as a key Open warm-up.
Bob MacIntyre called for exceptions for Scotland’s home open, while Scottie Scheffler said the tournament should stay in the Championship series because so many players use it before The Open.
The Scottish Open has been co-sanctioned by the PGA and DP World Tours since 2022, but its £6.7 million purse sits far below the new Championship tier’s planned minimum of $20 million.