The PGA Tour has confirmed a significant structural change for its season-ending event, which will begin in 2028. The traditional stroke-play competition at East Lake will be replaced by a two-week match play tournament. This new format is limited to the top 32 players on the season-long points list.
The competition will be divided into a group stage followed by a knockout bracket, with half of the field advancing to the second week to determine the champion.
Rory McIlroy characterized the shift as a direct response to long-standing requests from golf fans. Speaking to Golf Monthly, McIlroy said the tour leadership and the Future Competition Committee have embraced the demand for match play. He noted that the plan involves rotating the event across different high-profile courses rather than keeping it at a single location.
McIlroy stated, "It's certainly different. Two weeks, two different venues. But it's cool."
The logistical details of the new format include splitting the 32 qualifiers into eight groups of four for the first week. The top two players from each group will advance to a four-round bracket in the second week. The player with the best win-loss record over those four rounds will be named the champion.
McIlroy discussed these details with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp before the public announcement. The tour also plans to introduce a separate Championship Series finale to crown the season-long winner prior to this match play event.
McIlroy acknowledged that the format presents challenges for players accustomed to stroke play. In match play, competitors focus solely on beating their immediate opponent, which can create complex dynamics when a player is also competing for a specific ranking in the points list.
