Rory McIlroy just gave the PGA Tour’s new match play format for the Tour Championship a massive thumbs up, a major shift from his earlier questions about the tour’s future. The golf world’s buzzing after McIlroy met with media this Tuesday, sounding way more pumped for what’s coming in 2028.
The ‘Big Swing’ McIlroy’s Backing
McIlroy wasn’t always this enthusiastic, right? Earlier this year at the U.S. Open, he actually questioned if the PGA Tour’s two-tiered format coming in 2028 was even necessary, hinting the old setup was “pretty good.” But man, two months makes a huge difference! He’s been deep in talks with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, getting the real lowdown on the 2028 changes, especially this match play concept for the Tour Championship.
He was asked about it ahead of the 2026 Tour Championship, and the vibes were totally different. “I think the PGA Tour, the Future Competition Committee, Brian and everyone involved have really taken on board what the fans have been calling for and have wanted, which is match play,” McIlroy told reporters. Rolapp laid out the plan for him last week, and McIlroy’s on board. “It’s certainly different. Two weeks, two different venues. But it’s cool. I think they’ve taken a big swing, and conceptually, I think I really like it.” His only real hang-up? Worrying about player engagement in the second week, especially for those fighting for position in the loser’s bracket. But hey, that’s a minor detail when you’re talking about a complete shake-up!
Iconic Courses and Season-Long Bragging Rights
One of the sickest parts of this whole match play shift? The Tour’s openly talking about bringing the championship to some absolutely legendary venues. Think about it, with match play, who cares about score to par? It’s a made-for-TV spectacle, meaning they don’t need massive crowd buildouts. That opens the door wide open for those iconic, historic courses that usually aren’t big enough to host a standard PGA Tour event.
McIlroy gets it, totally. When asked what makes a venue prestigious for players, he nailed it: history. He even brought up the U.S. Amateur at Merion last week, saying watching that on TV was “really cool.” He’s not saying the Tour Championship will *be* Merion, but he’s eyeing those courses the USGA has basically had “a monopoly on” for ages. Imagine seeing the Tour Championship go down on one of those! Plus, McIlroy’s stoked they’re splitting the Tour Championship from the regular season champion. The final stroke-play event will crown the season-long champ, and then the Tour Championship becomes its own beast, something “totally different.”
This isn’t just a tweak; it’s a full-on re-imagining of how the Tour’s biggest event will play out. Rory McIlroy, once a skeptic, is now a believer in this “big swing.” Get ready, because 2028 isn’t that far away, and the Tour Championship is about to get a whole lot more intense and, frankly, way more fun to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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