KAPALUA, Hawaii — The PGA Tour is considering a potential overhaul of the Tour Championship to determine the FedEx Cup champion. This initiative, part of a comprehensive review, will require PGA Tour board approval.
Various concepts are being discussed, with a focus on enhancing player and fan excitement. The format under consideration includes a bracket of seeds, potentially incorporating a mix of stroke play and medal matches to ensure competitive play.
The current format, in place since 2019, involves 'starting strokes' to avoid confusion between the Tour Championship winner and the FedEx Cup champion. However, some players, like Patrick Cantlay, the 2021 FedEx Cup winner, have expressed dissatisfaction with the existing system.
Concerns have been raised about the Tour Championship's status as a 'legacy' event and the need to provide a fitting conclusion to the season. The tournament has undergone multiple changes since its inception in 2007, prompting calls for a more engaging format.
While bracketology, akin to NCAA basketball, is being considered, the unique nature of golf presents challenges in seeding players due to the narrow performance margins among the top 30 players.
Players like Adam Scott and Collin Morikawa have emphasized the difficulty in predicting outcomes in golf, suggesting alternative formats that could heighten the drama of the event.
Some players, like Tony Finau, caution against a complete shift to match play, citing concerns about fairness given the significant stakes involved.
Ultimately, the PGA Tour aims to strike a balance between tradition and innovation to create a compelling conclusion to the FedEx Cup season, ensuring that both players and fans are engaged throughout the tournament.
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