Tiger Woods makes first public appearance since DUI, rehab stint as PGA Tour announces sweeping changes

Tiger Woods introduced PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp in a monumental press conference for the organization on Tuesday morning, marking the 15-time major champion’s first official appearance since his March DUI arrest in Florida and his rehab stint abroad that followed.

Woods has served as a leader on the Tour’s Future Competition Committee, which he called a “privilege” during his brief introduction of Rolapp.

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Woods was arrested and charged with DUI with property damage and refusal submit a lawful test after his involvement in a two-car rollover crash on March 27 near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Authorities said Woods appeared lethargic and found hydrocodone pills on him at the scene, although he did blow “triple-zeroes” on breathalyzer tests.

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Woods pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge, and after being granted permission on April 1 to travel out of the country to enter inpatient treatment. It is understood that he entered a rehab stay in Zurich, Switzerland.

The PGA Tour officially approved a series of recommendations from the Future Competition Committee that will bring forth significant changes to the circuit’s structure beginning in 2028.

The new model will feature two concurrent running series — a Championship Series and a Challenger Series — that will feature the promotion and relegation of players. The Championship Series will feature approximately 23-24 events with fields of approximately 120 players running from February to August. The Tour announced that 10 of its expected 15 PGA Tour Championship Series events for 2028 have been lined up.

The Challenger Series will feature larger fields of approximately 144 players, and tournaments will be played concurrently with championship series events. Championship Series players will not be eligible to step down and compete in Challenger Series events.

The Tour stated that the top 90 finishers, at minimum, (out of approximately 130 Championship players) will be fully exempt for the following season. Players who fail to retain membership may risk relegation to the Challenger Series. A minimum of 20 players from the PGA TOUR Challenger Series will be promoted to the Championship Series for the following season.

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The Tour’s Fall Series will turn to a “last chance” series that will feature four to six events, where a limited number of spots on the Championship Series for the following season will be available as players look to improve – or retain – their status.

The Tour’s postseason will also be getting a major facelift beginning in 2028, with the introduction of match play and the Tour Championship rotating around “prestigious courses,” many of which the Tour has never held a tournament.