Latest news with #FedExCupTrophy
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Reveals Stunning $15 Million Pay Cut for Tour Championship Winner
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The FedEx Cup playoffs in general, and the Tour Championship in particular, have been the subject of much criticism from fans and players. In that regard, the PGA Tour has launched some changes for the current season that promise to be quite radical. Recently, it was announced that the Tour Championship will abandon the given strokes rule and become a regular stroke-play format event. However, it remains the case that the winner will be crowned the FedEx Cup (or season) champion, something that doesn't quite convince everybody in the golf world. The FedExCup Trophy is displayed on the 18th green after the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 01, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. The FedExCup Trophy is displayed on the 18th green after the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 01, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Now, the tour has announced a new measure that could resolve the discrepancy between the regular-season leader and the FedEx Cup champion. An exclusive report from Front Office Sports revealed that a new prize distribution system will be implemented for the upcoming playoffs. According to the report, the $100 million available for the playoffs will not be distributed at the end of the Tour Championship, but rather in three installments. At the end of the regular season, meaning after the Wyndham Championship, the FedEx Cup ranking leader will receive a $10 million bonus. Two weeks later, after the BMW Championship, the ranking leader will receive $5 million, while the Tour Championship winner will receive $10 million. Naturally, the other ranking members will receive decreasing prize money based on their placements at the same three tournaments. The FedEx St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship will retain their respective purses of $20 million each as individual tournaments. Under the previous system, the Tour Championship winner received a bonus of $25 million. 🚨💰⛳️ #NEW: The winner of the PGA TOUR's FedEx Cup will now receive $10M, down from $25M after the tour moved to compensate players with three seperate bonus payouts throughout the playoffs. (Via @FOS) — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 2, 2025 Season-long leader vs. Tour Championship winner One of the main criticisms of the Tour Championship has been that the winner may not have been the best player throughout the season and still be crowned the FedEx Cup champion. This new prize distribution undoubtedly seeks to resolve, at least in part, this issue. The Tour is awarding the regular-season leader a bonus exactly the same as the Tour Championship winner. It is a clear message about the importance it places on being the best player of the year. Until 2024, the regular-season leader was treated the same as any other player, unless he won the final tournament of the year. It's fair to say that things have changed for the best. More Golf: Open Championship: LIV Golfer Left Dizzy, Quits Qualifying
Newsweek
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Championship Ditching 'Gimmicky' Starting Strokes Format
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. With more than half of the PGA Tour season still to play, including three major championships, the season-ending TOUR Championship is already on the minds of the golf world. At the top of the list are the members of the Players Advisory Council (PAC), who haven't stopped thinking about it since last August. Several of the current PAC members spoke with Golfweek about an issue and shed some light on the path the event will take starting in the 2025 edition. None of them, however, revealed all of the details. Two things of primary interest to fans, however, seem clear. The first is that the TOUR Championship will finally get rid of the initial stroke advantage that, at least until last season, was given to top-ranked golfers. This has been a constant demand from players and fans alike. All indications are that the PAC will finally give the green light to this idea. "I hope so. I think everybody involved wants that to be the case," Player Director Adam Scott said, calling the starting-stroke format currently in place "gimmicky." Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the FedExCup Trophy after winning the FedExCup and TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 01, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the FedExCup Trophy after winning the FedExCup and TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 01, 2024 in Atlanta, PAC member Sam Burns put the issue into perspective. "Right now, it's a bit confusing for fans to have a tournament where we start even all year and then in our biggest tournament of the year, there are starting strokes. There's a bit of a disconnect." The other change that seems certain is one that will not be made, and that is to change the format of the event to match play. This is an idea that has been floating around in certain circles for some time, but the PAC does not seem to be very open to it: "It's hard to wrap your head around that you play one style all season and then your final event is an entirely different format," Scott said. "I think the players felt like we had match play in pro golf and there's a reason why it doesn't go that well. Big names go out and TV dies. It seems compelling early in the week but when Nos. 1 and 2 lose early you're in for a long weekend and there's also not a lot of golf." However, changes to the format that would not exactly match a traditional tournament (72 holes, stroke play) are being considered. Former PAC member and current broadcaster Kevin Kisner explained that one of the formats on the table was proposed by the TV partners and would involve introducing cuts after the second and third rounds, with only the top four playing for the season title. This system leaves open the possibility that the Tour Championship could be won by a player who has not been the best throughout the season. However, this is a reality in all sports that use season-ending playoffs, including all major sports in the United States as well as the LPGA Tour. These and other issues lead the PAC to not planning anything drastic. In fact, Burns said the 2025 edition of the event would be a "bridge year" to final changes. More Golf: U.S. Open: 14-Year-Old Posts Incredible Score to Advance to in Qualifying
