Rory McIlroy welcomes ‘cool’ new changes to Tour Championship

Rory McIlroy has welcomed the PGA Tour’s decision to introduce match play to the Tour Championship, saying the change could provide a more exciting finish to the season.

The new structure will begin in 2028 and will see the season end with a two-week match play event staged at ⁠different venues.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp announced the plans on Tuesday ahead of this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

“I think the PGA Tour and the Future Competition Committee and 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 a press conference.

“Brian took me through the plan last week for the first time. I didn’t really know anything about it.

“It’s certainly different. But it’s cool. I think they’ve taken a big swing, and conceptually, I think I really like it.”

The new season-ending structure will begin with a 90-player, 72-hole stroke play event.

The points leader at the end of that tournament will be crowned the season-long champion, while the top 32 in the standings will qualify for the Tour Championship.