PGA Tour Eliminates Starting Strokes at Tour Championship

The PGA Tour has eliminated the controversial starting strokes format at the Tour Championship, reverting the event to a standard 72-hole stroke play tournament where all 30 players start at level par. The previous format, introduced in 2019, gave the FedExCup points leader a head start of 10 under par, which received criticism from players and fans for being confusing and unfair. The decision aims to simplify the competition and make the event's outcome easier for fans to follow, while also making the course setup more challenging to encourage risk-reward play. The Player Advisory Council is continuing to study the qualification system to maintain the Tour Championship as the toughest tournament to qualify for. There are also considerations to potentially rotate the Tour Championship venue instead of keeping it permanently at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Reigning FedExCup champion Scottie Scheffler and other players have welcomed the changes, emphasizing the need for a straightforward format that brings out the best competition.