For years, golf fans have clamored for one-on-one matches between the world’s best players to decide the season-long champion. In 2028, they’ll finally get their long-awaited wish.
On Tuesday morning, the PGA Tour announced details for its new season-ending structure for the Championship Series beginning in 2028. Instead of a 30-man field competing in a stroke play tournament at East Lake Golf Club, the new Tour Championship will be a two-week match play competition featuring 32 golfers and a rotation of prestigious venues.
Week 1 will feature eight groups of four players competing in three days of match play in a round robin format. The top two performers in each group will advance to the next stage. In Week 2, the remaining 16 players will compete in three days of match play and advance through the bracket based on their win-loss record. The two undefeated players after the first three days will go head-to-head on Day 4 to decide the Tour Champion.
“Throughout this process, we listened carefully to our fans, players and partners. One message came through clearly: the culmination of our season should be worthy of the journey it takes to get there,” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a statement. “The result is a season-ending structure that rewards excellence over the course of the year while building toward a reimagined TOUR Championship.”