Tommy Fleetwood backs PGA Tour change Rory McIlroy "really likes"

Tommy Fleetwood believes the PGA Tour is "doing something everyone wants to see" by introducing match play to their season finale.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp confirmed on Tuesday that starting in 2028 the Tour Championship will be played across two weeks, at two different courses, with a head-to-head format.

It is the first time since 2023 that match play has featured on the PGA Tour's schedule.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy said the PGA Tour is "giving fans what they want" with the change, whilst world number one Scottie Scheffler said it was difficult to get his head around playing a full week without determining a winner.

"I think it's exciting," said Fleetwood. "I think it's something that's fresh and something that's exciting.

"One of the biggest points was celebrating whoever is the best player consistently at the end of the season and having that separate from what will then be playoffs or match play format.

"So I think separating the two, I think, is good and a positive, and it's what everybody kind of wanted to see."

The FedEx Cup playoffs have gone through numerous changes over the past two decades.

It currently consists of a three-event stroke play series (FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, Tour Championship).

Only the top 70 players are eligible for the first and the field is whittled down to 30 for the season finale.

In the past, the FedEx Cup leader started the Tour Championship at 10-under par, with the other players starting at progressively lower scores.

The system was scrapped in 2025 and now all players begin on level par. 

The revised playoffs are part of the changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2028.

A Championship and Challenger Series will run concurrently, with players switching levels at the end of the season based on performance.

"Like I say, whatever the schedule is, whatever the format is, like that's what's presented to you, and then you just go and play and you try and do your best and whatever comes with that," added Fleetwood.

"I've never been a huge one for looking too much into why it is what it is or how the format is.

"You [just] play your best and deal with the situation that's in front of you.

"That's just how I've always done it."

"It didn't really change things that much for me"

Fleetwood is the defending champion this week. 

Twelve months ago, Fleetwood withstood challenges from Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay to win in the United States for the first time after 164 starts. 

Emotion poured out of Fleetwood after he holed the winning putt on the 18th green in front of his sons and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose.

Fleetwood said the win didn't really change his outlook.

"Up until that point, there was always the questions about when or if I was going to win on the PGA Tour, and I think those questions would have been internal as well," he said. 

"So I guess those were answered."

He added: "I mean, every other example [near miss] I had was sort of proving that I got things wrong or it wasn't happening for me, and this one just went my way. 

"I think it's just proof that it will or it can.

"There's always something next, and I think I was just very aware of that. 

"But yeah, ultimately it was proof to myself that I could do it and sort of what it takes or that things could go your way when it comes down to that moment, and that was probably the main thing."