He was immediately intrigued, but like many others, the World No. 2 had to start designing a bracket in his head for the 16-man final week, with the players competing all four days. The way it pencils out is that on the final day there will be eight matches ranging from the title showdown to two guys playing for 15th and 16th place. (With plenty of big cash on the line, of course). “One thing I said to Brian (Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO) is, you really want to win a few matches that second week; it’s going to be hard for some guys to be playing match play and playing for 14th position or whatever it is,” McIlroy said on Tuesday amid player reaction to the tour announcements.

Of the match-play idea, McIlroy said, “I think they’ve taken a big swing, and, conceptually, I like it.” The Ulsterman did assert that the match play should be viewed as a standalone event. “It’s going to be it’s own deal,” he said. “… If you got in and you were the 32nd seed, I don't think you could put your hand up and say ‘I was the best player of the season’ if you go ahead and win the Tour Championship.”