East Lake Golf Club to Lose Exclusive FedEx Cup Championship Hosting in 2028

East Lake Golf Club will stop serving as the exclusive venue for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship beginning in 2028, according to reports on June 26, 2026. The venue will continue to host the FedEx Cup finale through the 2027 season before the Tour ends its permanent hosting arrangement.

The PGA Tour has not finalized the specific details for the event’s location after the 2027 season. The decision marks a shift from the long-term stability the Tour Championship has maintained in Atlanta for nearly three decades.

Why is East Lake ending its exclusive hosting role?

The Tour is moving away from a permanent, exclusive site model for its season-ending championship. While the reports from June 26, 2026, do not specify a catalyst for the move, the change ends a tenure that began in 1999 when East Lake became the fixed home of the event.

This transition contrasts with the standard PGA Tour schedule, where most tournaments rotate venues or operate under shorter-term contracts. The Tour Championship’s permanent residency at East Lake was a rarity in professional golf, mirroring the static nature of The Masters at Augusta National.

What happens to the Tour Championship after 2027?

The PGA Tour has not named a replacement venue or announced a rotation schedule for 2028 and beyond. The event remains the final leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which determine the season’s overall champion and the largest prize purse in professional golf.

The Tour currently employs a three-event playoff system:

• The FedEx St. Jude Championship
• The BMW Championship
• The Tour Championship

The Tour Championship is unique because it features a reduced field and a “Starting Strokes” format based on the standings from the previous two playoff events. The loss of a permanent home may force the Tour to negotiate new infrastructure requirements to maintain this specific format at different courses.

How does this change affect the PGA Tour’s tradition?

The move breaks a 28-year tradition of the Tour Championship concluding in Atlanta. Since 1999, East Lake has provided a consistent backdrop for the crowning of the FedEx Cup champion, creating a predictable seasonal rhythm for players and fans.

Industry precedents suggest the Tour may explore a rotating venue model similar to the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup to increase the event’s geographic reach. This would differ from the previous model where the Tour focused on deepening the brand identity of a single location.

The economic impact on the Atlanta region is expected to be a primary consideration as the 2027 deadline approaches. The event typically draws high-net-worth spectators and significant corporate sponsorship to the city’s hospitality sector every August.

Official statements from the PGA Tour regarding the 2028 selection process are expected as the league evaluates potential host cities and course layouts that can accommodate the championship’s specific requirements.