The PGA Tour is ditching its unpopular “Starting Strokes” format for the Tour Championship, the grand finale of the FedEx Cup playoffs. After years of fan and player gripes, the change aims to make the season-ending event simpler, fairer, and more exciting — supposedly. With $100 million in bonuses on the line, this is golf’s biggest stage getting a major makeover.
The Deets
- What’s Changing? Starting with this edition at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, all 30 qualifying players will tee off at even par for a standard 72-hole stroke-play tournament. No more handicaps giving top seeds like Scottie Scheffler a head start (think: 10-under before a single swing). The lowest score wins the Tour Championship title with the FedEx Cup being awarded to the winner – comparing it to the NFL, the Tour Championship is the Super Bowl while the FedEx Cup is the Lombardi Trophy.
- Why Now? The staggered-strokes system, in place since 2019, was meant to crown one clear champion but got flak for being “gimmicky” and confusing. Even Scheffler, the 2024 champ, called it “silly,” arguing it didn’t truly reflect a season-long race. Fans agreed, with viewership dipping (down 30% at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship).
- What Else? The PGA Tour is tweaking East Lake’s setup to be tougher, with more risk/reward moments to amp up drama. Bonus payouts are also being “balanced” to reward season-long performance, though exact dollar figures are TBD (last year’s winner bagged $25 million).
- Player Vibes: Scheffler’s pumped, saying the “straight-up format” and harder course will “bring out the best competition.” Players like Adam Scott pushed for a format that makes the FedEx Cup a legit crown jewel, like the Stanley Cup.
The Big Picture
The PGA Tour’s been tinkering with the FedEx Cup since it launched in 2007, chasing a playoff vibe that keeps fans glued. This latest pivot, approved by the Player Advisory Council, is part of a “Fan Forward” push to boost engagement. There’s talk of more tweaks—like a possible venue rotation post-2027 or even a cut line to spice things up.
What’s Next?
All eyes are on August to see if this revamp delivers the nail-biting finish the Tour’s chasing. Will a level playing field crown a surprise champ, or will top dogs like Scheffler still dominate? One thing’s clear: the PGA Tour’s betting big on simplicity to win fans back.
Skimm’d It
The PGA Tour’s hitting reset on the Tour Championship, scrapping Starting Strokes for a fiercer fight. It’s a bold move to make golf’s richest prize a true test of grit to keep you watching.
