Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the seventh fairway during the second round of the BMW Championship golf tournament, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Final stretch to recognize season-long performance and crown TOUR Champion in reimagined TOUR Championship with match play over two weeks at rotating venues
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR today announced details for the season-ending structure of its new competitive model, which will be implemented in 2028. Building on the recommendations approved by the PGA TOUR Boards in June, the new season-ending stretch will introduce a clearer and more consequential finish to the PGA TOUR Championship Series, culminating with a two-week TOUR Championship featuring the world’s best players competing in match play at rotating, prestigious venues.
“From the beginning, the goal of the Future Competition Committee was to create an easier-to-follow competitive model for our fans with greater consequence and a stronger season-long narrative,” said PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp. “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. The result is a season-ending structure that rewards excellence over the course of the year while building toward a reimagined TOUR Championship. We are creating something different, something distinct within professional golf that can resonate far beyond it.”
As previously announced, the PGA TOUR Championship Series will feature the PGA TOUR’s top performers competing head-to-head across the season in 72-hole stroke-play events with a cut, with players measured through a straightforward, season points system.
The new season-ending structure will stretch over three weeks, beginning with the PGA TOUR Championship Series Finale. Featuring the top 90 players on the season-long points list, who retain their cards for the following season, the PGA TOUR Championship Series Finale is the final 72-hole, stroke-play event of the season that finalizes the season-long points list, recognizes the season-long winner and sets the field for the TOUR Championship. At the conclusion of the Series Finale, the top 32 players on the season-long points list will advance to the TOUR Championship.
A separate, standalone event, the new-look TOUR Championship will feature match play contested over two weeks at different venues. The first week will be the group stage, followed by a second week with a first-of-its-kind, four-round, match-play bracket to decide the TOUR Champion. This marks the first time match play will be featured in the PGA TOUR’s postseason, and first time the format has been contested on TOUR since the 2023 WGC-Match Play event.
With a compact field and unique format, the TOUR Championship will rotate annually among prestigious venues, including courses the modern PGA TOUR has not traditionally been able to feature.
The PGA TOUR will unveil the full lineup of dates and venues for the 2028 PGA TOUR Championship Series, including sites for the 2028 TOUR Championship, on February 22, 2027, during a live broadcast event at PGA TOUR headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, produced by PGA TOUR Studios.
Season-Ending Structure for the PGA TOUR Championship Series
- PGA TOUR Championship Series Finale: The final 72-hole stroke-play event of the season, featuring a 90-player field, where participation will be required to earn the season-long title, season bonus and compete in the TOUR Championship. At the conclusion of the event:
- No. 1 finisher on the season-long points list is determined
- Event winner is determined and official purse distributed
- Bonus distributions paid out
- Top 32 players on the final season-long points list will advance to the two-week TOUR Championship
- TOUR Championship – Week 1: The championship begins with a three-round, group-stage competition with 32 players, in eight groups of four. Players will compete in match play against the other three players in their group. The top two players from each group advance to Week 2 of the TOUR Championship. In the event of a tie at the conclusion of group play, a playoff will be contested to determine who from each group advances to Week 2.
- TOUR Championship – Week 2: The championship culminates in a four-round, match-play competition with all 16 players competing in all four rounds. Players advance through the bracket based on their win-loss record, with the final two undefeated players battling to be crowned TOUR Champion. Player records across all four rounds will determine the final championship standings.
The PGA TOUR will provide updates as additional details are finalized. Eligibility for the 2028 PGA TOUR Championship Series will be announced following the September 14 Board Meeting.
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