PGA Tour eliminates starting strokes from Tour Championship / Photo: Sam Hodde - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
-
Expanded World Cup; same old story as Europe dominates quarter-finals
-
Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns
-
Morocco's Saibari out of France World Cup quarter-final
-
Belgium bid to crack Spain's ironclad defence in World Cup quarter-final
-
Trump orders new strikes on Iran over attacks on shipping in Hormuz
-
US man sentenced after swapping 17th century manuscript
-
PSG's Lee set to join Atletico Madrid
-
US launches new strikes on Iran after Trump vows to hit 'hard'
-
Iran plays with fire, but calculates Trump will hold back
-
Taylor Swift fans pay $25 for garbage from outside wedding
-
Oil surges, stocks slide as Trump says Iran ceasefire over
-
After quakes, Venezuelans fear losing damaged homes
-
Meta to build $9 billion data center in western Canada
-
PSG's Lee set to join Athletico
-
Rogers backs Kane to outshine Haaland in World Cup showdown
-
Erdogan gave pistols to NATO leaders, Starmer says
-
Some US Fed officials considered June rate hike on war fallout
-
Nocera Expands Diversified Technology Strategy With Binding Agreement to Acquire an Equity Interest in INERGX, an Integrated Energy Storage and Power Platform for AI, Defense and Mission-Critical Demand
-
UN launches appeal for nearly $300 mn in Venezuela quake relief
-
China sends nuclear missile message as US looks elsewhere
-
US to remove Syria from terror blacklist, in new boost to Sharaa
-
Justin Bieber added to 11-minute World Cup final halftime show
-
Court rejects Trump request to restore his name to Kennedy Center
-
Fery targets Wimbledon final birthday present after royal seal of approval
-
MLB pitching great Verlander to retire after 2026 season
-
Egypt file complaint against referee after World Cup exit
-
Artificial cloud brightening could tame El Nino, but with risks: study
-
Women's semi-finalists in uncharted territory at Wimbledon
-
Shocked and shaken, Venezuela quake survivors get psychological help
-
US man jailed after swapping 17th century manuscript
-
France, Morocco kick off blockbuster World Cup quarter-finals
-
UN maritime head urges halt to Hormuz transit to protect seafarers
-
Amorim hails 'ambitious' AC Milan, promises to learn Italian
-
Trump skips new Air Force One on return from Turkey NATO summit
-
Cancer survivor Traeen takes the long road to Tour yellow
-
New York building that buckled now 'stable,' says mayor
-
Easing Russian Olympic restrictions 'terrible', says Wimbledon star Kostyuk
-
UN says pledges for global connectivity project pass $100 bn
-
'Unbelievable' Kooij wins Tour de France 5th stage in chaotic sprint finish
-
McIlroy hoping for 'home' comforts at Scottish, British Opens
-
Britain's Fery to face Zverev in Wimbledon semi-finals
-
Noskova aims to emulate Kvitova after reaching first Wimbledon semi
-
Zverev sees off Fritz to make first Wimbledon semi-final
-
Britain's Fery becomes first wildcard to reach Wimbledon semis in 25 years
-
Barcelona sets new heat record at 40.7C: weather agencies
-
Korda chases third major as Kim revisits Evian-winning chip
-
'The Pitt,' 'Hacks' lead Emmy nominations
-
Kooij wins Tour de France 5th stage in chaotic sprint finish
-
France lose appeal against Olise booking at World Cup
-
Trump says Ukraine can make Patriot missiles
PGA Tour eliminates starting strokes from Tour Championship
Starting strokes will be eliminated from the season-ending Tour Championship, the PGA Tour announced on Tuesday, with the 30-man playoff finale being played as a 72-hole stroke-play tournament.
Players in past years had been given a staggered lead based on FedEx Cup season points, with last year's winner Scottie Scheffler starting at 10-under and finishing on 30-under to beat fellow American Collin Morikawa by four strokes after Morikawa began on four-under.
Over 72 holes, Morikawa was 26-under and Scheffler was 20-under but the starting strokes edge gave Scheffler the FedEx Cup playoff crown.
The tour's player advisory council and policy board approved changes to the playoff format on Tuesday that will have all players starting at level par as in a usual tournament.
The new format will be played in this year's Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta from August 21 to 24.
"Today's announcement is an important first step in the evolution of our post-season," said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
"The Player Advisory Council led a thorough process to respond to what our fans are asking for: The most competitive golf in the world, played for the highest stakes, in the most straightforward and engaging format."
Other changes to the Tour Championship include changing course set-ups to encourage more risk-reward choices throughout each round to help build drama.
The playoff format will narrow the field to 30 golfers but the player advisory council is studying the qualification system with an eye to boosting the value of season points and keeping the field the toughest to reach on tour.
Other ideas are being considered with possible announcements coming later this year.
"We want the Tour Championship to be the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedEx Cup trophy the most difficult to win," world number one Scheffler said.
"Shifting the Tour Championship to a more straight-up format with a tougher course set-up makes it easier for fans to follow and provides a more challenging test for players –- which brings out the best competition."
This year's Tour Championship will feature the top 30 players in points who have advanced from two prior playoff events: the 70-player St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis and the 50-player BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland.
O.Brown--AT