PGA Tour Championship Format Changes

ATLANTA — Unlike many of his peers on the PGA Tour, Masters champion Rory McIlroy expressed approval for the starting-strokes format used at the Tour Championship for the past six years.

Introduced in 2019, this system allowed the FedEx Cup points leader to begin the tournament at a 10-under score, giving them a minimum two-stroke lead over the other competitors. The second player in points started at 8 under, the third at 7 under, and so forth.

Even world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who won his first FedEx Cup after starting at 10 under in 2024, referred to the playoff format as “silly.”

This year, all 30 players at East Lake Golf Club will start their rounds at even par in a traditional 72-hole format. McIlroy noted that he might be in the minority for liking the old format, pointing out that it rewarded the players who performed best throughout the season.

With Scheffler’s outstanding performance this season, having won multiple tournaments, McIlroy commented that a two-shot advantage might not have sufficed given Scheffler’s current form. He added, “If it were starting strokes this week, Scottie with a two-shot lead probably isn’t enough.”

The PGA Tour has adjusted its bonus structure to better reward players based on their regular season performances. Scheffler has already earned $23 million in bonuses this year. At East Lake, an additional $40 million is at stake, including $10 million for the tournament winner.

As Scheffler seeks to become the first player to win back-to-back FedEx Cups, others like England’s Tommy Fleetwood appreciate the fresh start that the new format provides, suggesting it creates a more exciting competition. PGA Tour officials have labeled this year as a “bridge year,” hinting that further changes may be on the horizon.