Rory McIlroy critiques PGA Tour Challenger Series as lateral move

At a press conference prior to the 2026 BMW PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy expressed his views on the newly announced PGA Tour Challenger Series. He described it as a lateral move for DP World Tour players rather than an advancement in their careers. McIlroy emphasized that while the Championship Series is positioned as the premier level of Tour golf, he does not believe the Challenger Series provides significant benefits over the DP World Tour. Discussions are ongoing regarding how many DP World Tour players will be included in the Challenger Series and its pathway to the Championship Series.

• 3:34 PMYahoo Sports — Rory McIlroy calls PGA Tour Challenger Series a 'lateral move' from DP World Tour players