New PGA Tour Finale
PGA Tour Announces Radical Two-Week Match Play Championship for 2028 Season
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Key Points
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32 players will be split into eight groups of four, with each player facing the other three in their group; the top two from each group advance to the second week.
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In Week Two, the 16 advancing players will compete in four rounds of match play, with final standings determined by those results.
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The end-of-season finale will take place over two weeks at different venues, beginning with a 90-player, 72-hole stroke-play event.
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PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp announced the plan ahead of this week's Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.
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Rory McIlroy described the plan as a 'big swing' and said he conceptually likes it, noting it could deliver a more exciting finish.
The PGA Tour is overhauling its season finale starting in 2028 with a radical two-week format blending stroke play and match play, according to PGA Tour plans disclosed ahead of this year's East Lake championship. The new structure replaces the current FedExCup format with a 90-player, 72-hole stroke-play event in week one, followed by a Tour Championship where 32 players compete in group play and knockout rounds to crown a winner.
Rory McIlroy, the world's top-ranked golfer, praised the plan as a "big swing" that could deliver a more exciting finish to the season. McIlroy highlighted the strong incentives for the regular-season champion and said the format shift offers meaningful competition and strategic depth that fans have long requested.
How the Two-Week Format Works
Week one begins with 90 players competing in a 72-hole stroke-play event at one venue. The top 32 finishers advance to week two, where they are split into eight groups of four players each, according to PGA Tour officials.
In their groups, each player faces the other three competitors in head-to-head match play. The top two finishers from each group advance to the second week's knockout round. Four rounds of match play determine final standings, with the last two undefeated players meeting for the title.
McIlroy Backs the Radical Departure
McIlroy called the redesigned Tour Championship a "big swing" away from the current playoff structure, according to Golf media reports. The six-time major champion said he "conceptually likes" the blend of formats and believes it could generate more compelling late-season competition.
The world's top-ranked golfer emphasized that the regular-season champion will have strong incentives under the new structure. McIlroy suggested the reforms mark a meaningful shift in how the tour rewards consistency and peak performance during the final two weeks of play.
Broader Restructuring Signals Major Tour Changes
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp announced the two-week format ahead of this week's Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. The overhaul is part of a larger reorganization that could reshape how the Championship Series and a new Challenger Series fit into the revamped season.
The changes signal a clear departure from the current FedExCup playoff model toward a system that tests both stroke-play precision and match-play strategy. PGA Tour discussions suggest the reforms could ripple through other professional tours and reshape international golf competition over time.
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