PGA Tour overhauls postseason with new match play format
The PGA Tour said the goal was to create an easier-to-follow competitive model for fans with greater consequence and a stronger season-long narrative.
Starting in 2028, the PGA Tour will introduce a new postseason structure that features match play instead of the current stroke play events. The changes, announced on Tuesday by the tournament's Future Competition Committee chaired by Tiger Woods, will begin with a 72-hole stroke play PGA Tour Championship Series Finale for the top 90 players.
The winners of this event will then advance to the new Tour Championship, which will be contested via match play over two weeks at various courses. This marks a significant departure from the existing format, which consists of three stroke play events with progressively smaller fields.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated that the new structure aims to create a more engaging and competitive experience for fans, emphasizing the importance of season-long performance. The final two undefeated players will clash in a four-round, 16-man single-elimination bracket to determine the Tour Champion. The changes follow a proposal for a promotion and relegation model, which was approved in June and will be implemented starting in 2028.
Tiger Woods expressed his excitement about the new era of match play, emphasizing that the conclusion of the season should reflect the journey players take to reach the finale.
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