PGA Tour Ends Staggered Start in Tour Championship

The PGA Tour has voted to eliminate the controversial staggered start format at the season-ending Tour Championship, effective immediately, meaning all 30 players will start from even par in a standard 72-hole stroke play format. This change aims to simplify the competition for fans and provide a more challenging test for players, with the FedEx Cup awarded to the tournament winner rather than being influenced by starting stroke advantages. The Player Advisory Council and Policy Board supported the change, responding to player criticism that the previous system was gimmicky and undermined the prestige of winning the FedEx Cup. The Tour Championship will continue to be held at East Lake Golf Club, although there are discussions about possibly changing the venue in the future. In addition, the PGA Tour plans to revise the FedEx Cup prize distribution to reward season-long performance while maintaining incentives for winning the Tour Championship. These changes reflect an effort to make the Tour Championship the hardest tournament to qualify for and win, with a tougher course setup planned at East Lake to lower winning scores closer to par.