The PGA Tour have just been shown exactly what they must do with the FedEx Cup Playoffs to make them much better

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The format of the FedEx Cup Playoffs has been highly criticised by golf fans and journalists alike.

The PGA Tour have made big changes to the FedEx Cup Playoffs this season, with the Tour Championship starting from a level playing field, with no starting strokes.

However, there have been criticisms of that change, with the leader of the season-long race now set to head into East Lake with no advantage over the man who ended up in 30th position.

The PGA Tour’s decision to mix up the FedEx Cup Playoff format led to Rory McIlroy withdrawing from the St. Jude Championship.

Because there will be no advantage for finishing first in the FedEx Cup points list at the Tour Championship, McIlroy chose to rest up rather than play in Memphis.

The PGA Tour are said to be not happy with McIlroy, but the whole situation is a problem of their own making.

While the handicap format at the Tour Championship was perhaps not the best way to go, Scottie Scheffler having zero advantage after dominating the 2025 season seems to be slightly unfair as well.

Now though, the PGA Tour have been given the blueprint for success in the FedEx Playoffs moving forward.

The PGA Tour have been shown what to do with the FedEx Cup Playoffs

The FedEx St. Jude Championship reached a thrilling climax on Sunday, with Justin Rose getting the better of J.J. Spaun in a playoff at TPC Southwind.

The three-hole playoff was exceptional to watch, with high quality golf leading to box-office entertainment.

Now the PGA Tour have been given a clear idea on exactly how that can exponentially improve the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Why not scrap the stroke-play format, and switch things up to match-play for the Playoffs?

In order for this to work, the cut-off for the final three play-off events would have to be the top-64 on the points list, rather than the top 70.

Then there could be a seeded match-play event, with the player ranked in first spot in the standings facing the 64th ranked player, the second taking on the 63rd placed player, etc.

The PGA Tour could hold the last-64 and last-32 at TPC Southwind, the last-16 and the last-eight at Caves Valley and then have the semi-finals and the final at East Lake.

Match-play may not be to everyone’s taste, but switching to the head-to-head format from stroke-play would undoubtedly increase excitement and drama, especially in the latter stages of the Playoffs.

The other bonus of switching to match-play is that it would be seeded, so the person in first place on the season-long points list would at least have a slight advantage over the rest of the field on paper.

The PGA Tour’s main objective here should be creating more entertainment for the fans, and I am convinced that using a match-play format for the FedEx Cup Playoffs would provide exactly that.

What Scottie Scheffler said about changes to the FedEx Cup Playoffs

Scheffler has reigned supreme in the regular season on the PGA Tour.

He has four wins to his name including two major championships, and he is streets ahead in the world rankings, the FedEx Cup standings and the Ryder Cup points list.

However, he will head to East Lake with zero advantage over anyone else in the field.

You might think he wouldn’t be best pleased about that but in fact, it is the complete opposite.

Back in July, Scheffler was asked to give his verdict on the changes made to the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

He said: “I think when you’re looking at a golf tournament, I think the best way to identify the best player over the course of a tournament is 72-hole stroke play on a really good golf course. I think when you look at a good test of golf and you got to compete over four days, I think that’s the best way to crown the best winner for that week.

“And looking at the TOUR Championship, I didn’t love the previous format of starting strokes, and I really like the direction where we’re going. I think the TOUR Championship’s going to be difficult to qualify for. Making the TOUR Championship is truly going to be the results from a great body of work over the course of a season, and then you have an opportunity to win the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup.”

However, while Scheffler may be happy with the changes, the most important thing for the PGA Tour is to keep the fans engaged.

And the best way to do that would be by switching up the FedEx Cup Playoffs to a new match-play format.

The thrilling finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship proved that.