Brandt Snedeker is the latest PGA Tour player to call for changes to be made to the season-ending Tour Championship.
Currently, the FedEx Cup leader is given a two-stroke lead heading into the event at East Lake. In 2024, Scottie Scheffler cruised to a completely uneventful victory.
There’s no denying Scheffler’s achievement, and the world number one was utterly deserving of his $25m prize money. However, the manner of the two-time Masters champ’s win was undramatic and, quite frankly, dull for those watching on at home.
Clearly, the PGA Tour has taken note, and reports emerged suggesting that a bracket-style event was being considered for the Tour Championship. What’s more, rumours suggest that match-play could be introduced.
Brandt Snedeker says the Tour Championship must change
Snedeker, discussing the possible changes before this week’s Cognizant Classic, believes the current format must be shelved.
“I think we have seen the last couple of years that the fan engagement is not what it should be. There is a little confusion; it’s just a weird set-up how to start the week up ten under par, eight under par, seven under par,” he told the Golf Channel.
“It’s just kind of hard for people to grasp it and get behind it. It’s a very difficult thing to understand or figure out: how do you reward a season-long champion in a four-round event without diminishing the whole regular season but also creating an exciting, dramatic finish on Sunday? How you do that, I don’t know. I have not been a big fan of the way they have done it because I think it creates more confusion, and it’s so unnatural to the game of golf and how the tradition and history have been.
“I think something needs to be done. Obviously the ratings haven’t been great the last couple of years, that’s part of the reason behind it. But it’s a very untraditional model in trying to crown a champion.”
Concerns around match play at the Tour Championship
Straight-up match-play could present further issues for the PGA Tour. Firstly, those players who were consistent throughout the season could end up exiting the Tour Championship while not being given a clear advantage.
Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy could lose to a lesser-known player who has the round of their life at East Lake.
Furthermore, broadcast demands also need to be addressed. NBC or the Golf Channel won’t be overly thrilled if matches end early on into the back nine.
One format that TV companies could welcome is medal matches. Both players putt out on every hole and play the full 18. In such an occurrence, a golfer who is three or four shots down can still win whilst coming down the stretch.
The PGA Tour faces an unenviable task regarding the Tour Championship, but these changes must be considered to keep the product engaging.
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