PGA Tour Removes Starting Strokes From Tour Championship, Scheffler Supports

The PGA Tour has eliminated the staggered starting strokes format at the season-ending Tour Championship, returning to a traditional 72-hole stroke play where all 30 qualifiers start at even par. This change, welcomed by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, aims to create a more straightforward and competitive event that is easier for fans to follow and offers a tougher challenge for players. Scheffler, a member of the Player Advisory Council, emphasized that the new format will make the Tour Championship the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedEx Cup the most difficult to win. Alongside the format change, the course setup at East Lake Golf Club will feature a more risk-and-reward design to encourage strategic play and tighter leaderboard competition. The previous system, introduced in 2019, awarded starting strokes based on FedEx Cup standings, which critics argued confused viewers and diluted on-site competition. The PGA Tour's adjustments reflect feedback from its 'Fan Forward' initiative, which called for winning scores closer to par and a more engaging postseason format.