The PGA Tour will take away the starting-strokes format from its profitable Tour Championship because of fan suggestions.
This 12 months’s occasion at East Lake Golf Membership in Atlanta from August 21-24 – the ultimate event within the FedExCup Playoffs – will see all 30 gamers begin at even par.
Since 2019, the FedExCup factors chief heading into the Tour Championship has begun at 10 below par, with the participant in second at eight below, third at seven below, fourth at six below, and fifth at 5 below.
The remainder of the sphere then began between 4 below and even par.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stated in an announcement: “Our Fan Ahead Initiative has helped us consider every a part of the PGA Tour season and at present’s announcement is a vital first step within the evolution of our postseason.
“The Player Advisory Council (PAC) led a thorough process to respond to what our fans are asking for: The most competitive golf in the world, played for the highest stakes, in the most straightforward and engaging format.”
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who gained the Tour Championship by 4 strokes from Collin Morikawa final season after starting at 10 below par, was a critic of the outdated format and says the modifications will “bring out the best competition.”
He stated in an announcement: “We want the Tour Championship to be the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedEx Cup trophy the most difficult to win.
Scheffler says the modifications to the Tour Championship will make it ‘simpler for followers to observe’
“Shifting the Tour Championship to a more straight-up format with a tougher course setup makes it easier for fans to follow and provides a more challenging test for players-which brings out the best competition.”
The PGA Tour added that its guidelines committee will discover methods to “encourage more risk/reward moments” for gamers on the Tour Championship – an occasion Rory McIlroy has gained thrice, in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
The sector will stay at 30 gamers for 2025, however the Participant Advisory Council is “studying the qualification system” for future years to make sure it’s the hardest event to qualify for.
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