The PGA TOUR is Set to Make HUGE Changes to the TOUR Championship

The PGA TOUR has been looking for new ways to combat the shrinking viewership of professional golf across the board. It has tried big money events, different television coverage, and a variety of other strategies to pull fans back in after a few years of viewership declines.

However, sources say the TOUR is mulling potentially the biggest changes yet for the 2025 season, and the TOUR Championship at East Lake could be an entirely new format that could be interesting to fans.

Reports now indicate the TOUR is looking to change the signature final event of the season into a match play format that would be bracketed and seeded based on player performance and FedEx Cup points. This would be a significant change from the typical stroke play format the TOUR has used for the event for years.

Things look like they need a change, and the TOUR Championship has been criticized for its staggered format that gives the leader in the FedEx Cup point standings a multiple-stroke lead over the rest of the field.

Breaking news: Sources tell @TheAthletic that the PGA Tour is in advanced discussions to change the Tour Championship to a bracket-style event.

Conversations on the exact format are still ongoing, but the tournament could be reimagined as early as 2025: https://t.co/v6H2hARDdD

— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) January 3, 2025

Nothing is finalized, according to The Athletic, who initially reported on the development. However, things are moving along, and there is a growing case for a new format for the event as it has fallen flat in recent years, with many criticizing the layout and staggered start.

The current structure gives the leader of the FedEx Cup Points Standings a two-stroke lead over the second-place golfer. Scottie Scheffler started -10 at East Lake last year because of his points lead. Xander Schauffele started -8.

People have been highly critical of the format. Match play, however, could be a good solution as the PGA TOUR used to hold an event with this format, and it did well. It also made it more interesting because a different strategy is involved with match play than in stroke play.

Cover Image via PGA of Australia