The PGA Tour confirmed on Tuesday that its postseason will feature a new match‑play structure beginning in 2028. After years of fan requests, the organization will roll out a two‑track system: the PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series. The change adds a two‑week match‑play finale to the existing stroke‑play format.
How the new format works
Under the revised system, the top 90 players on the Championship Series points list will retain their Tour cards for the following season and will qualify for the Championship Series Finale. That finale will be a 90‑player, 72‑hole stroke‑play event, effectively serving as the first playoff round.
Following the stroke‑play event, the top 32 players on the final points list will advance to a two‑week match‑play segment. Week one will feature eight groups of four players each, competing in group match play over three days. The two best performers from each group will move on to week two.
Week two will host a 16‑player knockout bracket, with matches played over four days. The last player standing after winning four consecutive matches will be crowned the champion. The second week will be held at a different venue than the first, adding variety to the conclusion of the season.
Titles and qualifications
The Championship Series Finale will award two distinct titles: the season‑long points winner and the winner of the stroke‑play event. The match‑play champion will be recognized as the overall postseason champion, receiving the FedEx Cup trophy.
In the event of a tie during group play, a sudden‑death playoff will determine which players advance, rather than using a margin‑of‑victory tiebreaker.
Background and rationale
Since the FedEx Cup’s introduction in 2007, the PGA Tour has experimented with several postseason formats, ranging from pure points races to giving the points leader a head start in the final event. Organizers and many fans have long argued that match play provides the most exciting and decisive way to determine a champion.
The decision follows the Tour’s discontinuation of the WGC‑Match Play event in Austin, Texas after the 2023 edition. While the WGC event was held at an unconventional time of year, it remained popular among fans who appreciated its distinct format.
Implementation timeline
The Tour plans to release a full schedule of dates and venues for the 2028 Championship Series on February 22, 2027. Brian Rolapp, soon‑to‑be PGA Tour CEO, announced the change ahead of his official start date on January 1, 2027, signaling a new direction for the organization.
Officials believe that a two‑week, two‑venue match‑play finale will generate greater fan engagement and provide a compelling climax to the golf season.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
