The Controversial Starting-Stroke Format
Between 2019 and 2024, the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship used a staggered “starting strokes” system designed to ensure the season-long FedEx Cup points leader also won the final event. The top-ranked player began at –10, second at –8, third at –7, continuing down to even par for those ranked 26–30. This format aimed to simplify the outcome—one winner, one champion—but soon drew fire.
Players criticized it as gimmicky. Reigning champ Scottie Scheffler called it “silly”, arguing that “you can’t call it a season-long race and have it come down to one tournament” Collin Morikawa, who had the lowest raw score at East Lake in 2024 but lost because of starting strokes, lamented “coulda, shoulda, woulda, right? That was last year; this is this year.”
Xander Schauffele—who also performed best over 72 holes multiple times yet didn’t win the overall Cup—relievedly noted that the new format “seems more aligned with how other playoffs work,” and that golf “is really the most merit-based sport… now… everyone is starting at level.”
Why It Sparked Backlash
Critics balked at the illusion of fairness the format created. In 2024, for instance, Scheffler began at –10 and finished at –30, yet produced only the third-lowest 72-hole score, behind Morikawa and Akshay Bhatia NThe disconnect between actual play and the final outcome undercut fans’ trust and drew complaints from players.
From the outside looking in, the system seemed tailored to protect leaders rather than reward performance in the present moment. As noted in commentary, “The article critiques the… system… unfair, especially to players like Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the season but may lose due to a single poor round or injury.” The result was a narrative dissonance: not the best player winning, but the player with points buffer.
What Changed in 2025
In May 2025, the PGA Tour officially scrapped the starting strokes. The Tour Championship returned to a traditional 72-hole stroke-play event, with all 30 qualifiers starting at even par. The winner of East Lake is now the outright FedEx Cup champion—no confusion, no buffer.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, citing the “Fan Forward” initiative, emphasized that fans wanted “the most competitive golf in the world… in the most straightforward… format” The Tour also announced tougher course setups to encourage risk-reward strategy and make the contest more challenging.
Scheffler encapsulated the shift, stating:
“You have to play well at the right time, and that’s just part of being in competitive sports… At the end of the day, you have to perform when it matters the most.” The Washington Post
Impact and Implications
1. Fairness & Meritocracy
The new format rewards performance over the final four rounds, not point-based head starts. Win or lose at East Lake, the outcome now directly reflects who played best—aligning more closely with golf’s ethos of meritocracy.
2. Increased Drama & Unpredictability
With no score advantages, the Tour Championship becomes a pure test. Contenders who might have been eliminated before now have a legitimate shot, heightening viewer engagement and unpredictability.
3. Amplified Pressure
Season-long leaders no longer enjoy cushion. A poor round—or even an injury—costs everything. Morikawa’s 2024 scenario illustrates the stakes: without starting strokes, he would have been champion instead of runner-up.The psychological burden on leaders has intensified.
4. Strategic Season Planning
Every playoff event matters. Without a final buffer, players can’t afford to ease up; they must build momentum and maintain form leading into East Lake. The reshuffling of bonus pools to earlier playoff rounds reinforces this, incentivizing consistent performance across all events.
5. Future of Playoff Design
The changes signal the Tour’s willingness to experiment. Proposals like match play, seeding, or decoupling the Cup from the final event remain topics of conversation. For now, golf returns to simplicity—but the blueprint remains in flux.
Looking Ahead
The elimination of starting strokes marks a pivotal shift—not just in format, but in philosophy. The new model embraces fairness, performance, and fan comprehension. It increases drama, raises stakes for leaders, and may restore credibility in the playoff finale.
Yet questions linger: Will elite players feel unfairly penalized for a single bad day? Will fans prefer this merit-driven model or crave the excitement of guaranteed leader advantages? As the 2025 playoffs unfold, golf’s governing bodies will be watching closely—and further refinements may well follow.
In stripping away the starting stroke buffer, the PGA Tour has laid bare a fundamental principle: in the Tour Championship, the best four days of golf should win—not who’s best on paper.
