The PGA Tour is considering a format change to its Tour Championship, in keeping with studies from The Athletic and The Related Press.
The Athletic first reported that Tour officers have been discussing choices for changing the present staggered-start format for its FedExCup playoff finale at East Lake with a “bracket-style occasion.” The AP later added that a number of ideas have been being mentioned, and the Tour was “leaning” towards some form of seeded match-play bracket, with potential concepts together with medal match play; stroke play main into match play; and having matches resolve the highest eight finishers.
The AP added that the Tour’s Participant Advisory Council has but to see any proposals and {that a} change in time for the 2025 Tour Championship is unlikely.
All sources within the studies spoke to the retailers on situation of anonymity.
The Tour moved the 30-man Tour Championship to a staggered begin in 2019, rewarding the FedExCup No. 1 by letting him start the week at East Lake at 10 beneath, amongst different tiered beginning positions. Nonetheless, participant opinion has by no means been overly optimistic. In truth, simply this previous season, Scottie Scheffler referred to as the format “foolish.”
Keegan Bradley was requested concerning the studies on Friday at Kapalua. He mentioned he’d solely simply heard concerning the potential modifications, however he agreed changes in all probability have to be made.
“I do know that the format now I believe is a bit of clunky,” Bradley mentioned. “I believe it’s a bit of unusual. There’s no proper or mistaken manner. They’re attempting to create drama within the final occasion of the 12 months, and you bought guys like Scottie Scheffler who, you understand, in the event that they don’t do one thing like that, wouldn’t must even play that week and also you win the FedExCup. So, I’m not able, fortunately, to make these [changes], however I’m all for attempting to make the Tour higher.”
The revealed potential tweaks provide some promise.
Medal match play is a model of the head-to-head format the place opponents play 18 holes, after which the bottom stroke-play rating wins the match. If tied, like regular match play, the match goes to sudden dying. Medal match play is most notably used on the NCAA Division II Championship, and it is also featured within the closing spherical of the St. Andrews Hyperlinks Collegiate, a university occasion that finishes on the Outdated Course. Think about competing on the Outdated Course, but your match ends on No. 16; medal match play ensures that each match goes to the ultimate gap, certainly an attractive side for sponsors who buy suites round East Lake’s 18th inexperienced.
High novice championships such because the U.S. Novice and Western Novice use stroke-play qualifying earlier than advancing the highest finishers to match play. This format would be certain that each participant who qualifies for East Lake sticks round for a number of days, as would a match-play format with 4 culminating matches, presumably for first, third, fifth and seventh place – and corresponding prize payouts. Often, such matches would come on the finish of a bracket that features comfort components.
There are actually loads of choices, with the frequent thread being a head-to-head showdown for large cash on Sunday at East Lake.
“I believe that might be actually attention-grabbing, as a result of the strain that you’d really feel on the Tour Championship, for those who’re going to win the FedExCup and win no matter sum of money is at stake, that’s actual strain,” Bradley mentioned. “So, to look at two guys exit and play for it could be fairly cool.”
