The PGA TOUR have announced the removal of starting strokes at the season-concluding TOUR Championship following feedback from fans.
The event which marks the culmination of the FedExCup play-offs, this year taking place at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta between 21-24 August, will see all 30 players who have qualified start on level par.
Since 2019, every iteration of the event has seen the player at the summit of the FedExCup standings commence from 10 under par. The player in second would start on 8 under, third on 7 under, fourth on 6 under, fifth on five under, and so on.
In a statement, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said: “Our Fan Forward Initiative has helped us evaluate each part of the PGA Tour season and today’s announcement is an important first step in the evolution of our postseason.
“The Player Advisory Council (PAC) led a thorough process to respond to what our fans are asking for: The most competitive golf in the world, played for the highest stakes, in the most straightforward and engaging format.”
Last year’s TOUR Championship winner and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler backs the change to the original format.
“We want the TOUR Championship to be the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedExCup trophy the most difficult to win,” Scheffler said.
“Shifting the TOUR Championship to a more straight-up format with a tougher course setup makes it easier for fans to follow and provides a more challenging test for players – which brings out the best competition.”
The PGA TOUR also revealed further changes “to encourage more risk/reward moments” and stated the Player Advisory Council “is studying the qualification system of future years to raise the stakes on the entire FedExCup season and reinforce the TOUR Championship as the hardest tournament to qualify for.”