Rory McIlroy has shared some insider knowledge on the DP World Tour's negotiations with the PGA Tour about the number of cards that will be offered up for the lucrative Championship Series

ABU DHABI — Rory McIlroy has revealed that four DP World Tour stars will be promoted to the PGA Tour's lucrative Championship Series when it launches in 2028.

The DP World Tour has sent its top 10 players not already exempt to the PGA Tour in recent years, but with the American circuit moving to a two-track system, the number of promotions is set to be reduced. The DP World Tour does not want to send any of its players to the lesser Challenger Series, fearing it would be viewed as the third-tier tour in professional golf.

It was floated that five Championship Series cards would be up for grabs on the DP World Tour in 2027, but McIlroy expects the number to be four after negotiations between the tours, which share a strategic alliance. The six-time major champion indicated his comments came from a position of insider knowledge.

"I thought five was a nice number," McIlroy told reporters at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. "I think it'll probably be a little less than that. I'd say it'll probably be four, if I know what I'm talking about, which I usually do.

"Yeah, I think PGA Tour were sort of on three, European Tour were on five. I think they'll meet in the middle and I think it'll be four."

The offer of four places in the Championship Series sets up a fascinating 2027 season on the European circuit, which is set to benefit from an influx of former LIV Golf members after the breakaway league's collapse.

Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and perhaps Bryson DeChambeau are set to play regularly in Europe next season, unless they cut peace deals with the PGA Tour in the meantime. Regardless, the limited number of cards on offer raises the stakes.

McIlroy, who has put more of his energy into DP World Tour events over the past couple of seasons, insisted he had no concerns that the Strategic Alliance will end now that the threat of LIV Golf is gone.

There is a break clause in the agreement which becomes active next year, but McIlroy coolly dismissed the notion that the relationship between the tours could end. "No," he replied with a smile after the question was put to him.

The world No. 2 is in contention for the title at Yas Links after firing a five-under-par 67 on Saturday. He sits in solo fourth place at 16 under par, two shots adrift of leader Jon Rahm.

It is a tantalizing leaderboard with Tyrrell Hatton and Adam Scott also in the mix, and McIlroy believes the tournament is evidence of a bright future awaiting the DP World Tour, with the PGA Tour focusing its efforts on the summer months.

"The Championship Series gives the DP World Tour five months to shine, September through to January," he said. "That's where the DP World Tour can really showcase its best events and its best players.

"The top guys will be done with the PGA Tour season, and then you have the sort of core membership that'll be battling it out through the summer months and then trying to get themselves into these bigger tournaments at the end of the year. It is the blueprint for the DP World Tour, absolutely."