Particle.news

Download on the App Store

PGA Tour Scraps Starting-Strokes for Even-Par Tour Championship Format

The shift follows fan feedback favoring a straightforward finale after the PGA Tour’s Fan Forward Initiative reviewed season-ending formats.

Image
Sep 1, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan addresses the gallery gathered on the 18th green after the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Image
Image

Overview

  • Starting this August at East Lake Golf Club, all 30 players will tee off at even par over four rounds without staggered FedEx Cup-based strokes.
  • The PGA Tour’s Rules Committee will adjust course setup to create more risk-and-reward challenges that yield winning scores closer to par.
  • Prize money distribution is being rebalanced to reward season-long performance, ensuring more equitable bonus payouts among all qualifiers.
  • The Player Advisory Council will study potential revisions to qualification criteria, including field size, for future editions to reinforce the Tour Championship’s elite status.
  • East Lake remains the host through 2027, with tour officials exploring relocation options for the season finale thereafter.