It will please plenty of golf fans that the PGA Tour appear to be seriously considering changes to the Tour Championship format after the 2024 event turned into something of a damp squib.
There could have hardly been a better indicator that the current Tour Championship format does not work than 2024’s visit to East Lake.
Scottie Scheffler was the rightful winner after starting the week on 10 under par. It is surely fair to say that the world number one was, by far, the best player on the PGA Tour throughout the season, so it almost appeared to be unfair that he began the week just two shots clear of Xander Schauffele.
On the other hand, recognising that Scheffler deserved to have at least some advantage meant that the tournament itself proved to be largely disappointing. Collin Morikawa briefly looked like challenging him on Sunday afternoon, but hopes of some sort of dramatic finish disappeared extremely quickly before the turn.
Smylie Kaufman shares rumours he’s heard about changes to the Tour Championship
It appears that the PGA Tour are planning to act. There have been murmurs that matchplay could be used in the future. And speaking on The Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman suggested what he has heard about a potential format change.
“I think the biggest hurdle that they’re going to have is that the PGA Tour’s all year determined by stroke play. I think you’ve seen Adam Scott say that in the headlines this week, of why that may be an issue for a lot of PGA Tour players,” he said.
“I think to combat that argument is that the money needs to be much, much different for the playoffs versus the regular season. So the overhaul that needs to take place is how much money is awarded at the end of the regular season, and then have the playoffs be for a very good chunk of change.
“I think that will get guys to get up for playing for a lot of money in matchplay, to not be burned by going out there in the quarter-finals when you go out and shoot five under and you lose to another guy who shoots seven. And I also hear that that matchplay would be stroke play potentially. That’s what I’ve heard a rumour about as well.”
Another potential format for the Tour Championship has been suggested
As Kaufman notes, there is scope for the tour to have their cake and eat it. No-one would have complained had Scheffler received the biggest prize ahead of the FedEx Cup playoffs for winning the race throughout the season.
There then could have been a run of events which had little to do with the season’s race. While the prize could still be significant, it would be much smaller than what Scheffler received for the year. That would allow the best player across the year’s achievements to be recognised, while there would also be some drama in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Johnson Wagner suggested that he would like to see a system which sees the top four players receive a bye into the second round of the Tour Championship, while around 20 players battle it out for a handful of places to join them.
It is definitely positive that the PGA Tour are looking to act. But given the number of changes over the years, there may be a few reservations about the likelihood of the tour stumbling upon a successful solution this time around.
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