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Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
PGA Tour nixes ‘starting strokes' format for Tour Championship
The PGA Tour has altered the format for the season-ending Tour Championship, doing away with the staggered scoring start and promising to create a tougher setup for East Lake Golf Club. The tour's announcement Tuesday cited feedback from its "Fan Forward" initiative that said fans wanted to see winning scores closer to par. "Our Fan Forward initiative has helped us evaluate each part of the PGA Tour season and today's announcement is an important first step in the evolution of our postseason," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. "The Player Advisory Council 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." The previous "starting strokes" format was introduced in 2019 and rewarded the FedEx Cup points leader by allowing him to start the Tour Championship at 10 under par. The player in second place would begin the tournament at 8 under, the third player at 7 under, the fourth at 6 under and the fifth at 5 under. The rest of the 30-man field would be slotted between 4 under and even par. The FedEx Cup would be awarded to the winner of the Tour Championship. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy won it twice under this format and Scottie Scheffler won his first last year after starting at 10 under. But Scheffler was a critic of the convoluted format, and he took part in the decision to change it as a member of the Players Advisory Council. Now, all 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship via the FedEx Cup playoffs will start on even footing with the same chance of winning the FedEx Cup, which last year came with a $25 million bonus. "We want the Tour Championship to be the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedEx Cup trophy the most difficult to win," Scheffler said in a statement. "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 tour said its rules committee will find ways to "encourage more risk/reward moments" at East Lake, the Atlanta club that's hosted the Tour Championship every year since 2004. The tour's announcement also said the field will remain at 30 players for 2025, but the PAC is "studying the qualification system" for future years to make sure it is the hardest tournament for players to qualify for. Field Level Media
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
