Patrick Cantlay opens up after being lone PGA Tour board member to abstain on new format vote
Patrick Cantlay hits his approach shot on the 9th hole of the Stadium Course during the second round of the American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, January 23, 2026.
Patrick Cantlay hits his approach shot on the 9th hole of the Stadium Course during the second round of the American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, January 23, 2026.
Patrick Cantlay sits on two of the most powerful boards in professional golf. The American professional golfer is a Player Director on both the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board, and a member of the Future Competition Committee chaired by Tiger Woods.
The 35-year-old golfer was the only board member to abstain from Monday's vote on the Tour's new competitive format. Cantlay spoke to reporters at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, after opening the Travelers Championship with a 65. Reporters did not directly ask Cantlay why he chose not to vote.
"First of all, I'm grateful to everyone on the Committee and all the player directors for all the hard work they put in over the past many months," Cantlay said. "I'm excited about the future of the Tour, and I think it's in a good spot, and I know all the hard work hopefully pays off."
Even Tiger Woods, who has taken time away from golf for treatment in recent months, attended Monday's vote in person.
Meanwhile, Cantlay offered no explanation for why he refused to vote. But this abstention could be more of a cautionary move than a disagreement, as he believes there is still plenty of work to do before the new system is fully ready.
He explained that getting the details right will be important because the format is complex. Still, he is confident that the PGA Tour will make it work because of the effort and planning that have already gone into the process.
But what is this new PGA format?
What the new PGA format actually means
According to Per Zak's June 23 report in Golf.com, the PGA Tour Enterprises Board approved the new changes on Monday, with almost everyone voting in favor.
Starting in 2028, the PGA Tour will be divided into two levels. The top level, called the Championship Series, will include about 130 players and tournaments with prize money of $20 million or more. The second level will be called the Challenger Series.
The PGA Tour will connect the two levels through a promotion-and-relegation system. Players who perform poorly over a full season will drop to the Challenger Series for the following year.
The PGA Tour will also remove sponsor exemptions, which previously gave struggling players another chance to play in tournaments.
What do you think about Cantlay's abstention on the PGA Tour's new format vote? Let us know in the comments!
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Zaid Quraishi