The world of golf has been abuzz with the potential shift in the format of the PGA Tour Championship, sparking concerns among the sport’s heavyweights. Notably, Rory McIlroy, a renowned figure in the game, has voiced his apprehensions about the proposed changes, igniting a debate among players, fans, and the PGA Tour itself.
In the backdrop of the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational pre-game press conference, McIlroy articulated his skepticism regarding the PGA Tour’s speculated plans to modify the Tour Championship format. The proposed change is a response to Scottie Scheffler’s disparaging remarks about the current staggered-start system, which he openly ridiculed as “silly” during the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
McIlroy raised eyebrows when asked about the potential bracket-style tournament for 2025. “The chatter around the match play format is growing, but I’m not convinced that East Lake, a traditional stroke play venue, is the right place for it,” McIlroy expressed. “Our season is primarily stroke play, so is match play the right way to crown the FedExCup champion? I’m not so sure.”
The Athletic recently reported that the PGA Tour is in the final stages of discussions to transform the Tour Championship into a bracket-style event as soon as this year. The potential changes mimic the structure of the now-defunct World Golf Championships Match Play, where golfers competed head-to-head in knockout matches. These proposed changes have been expedited in response to numerous top players’ grievances about the current system’s fairness, Scheffler’s outspoken displeasure being the most notable.
What makes McIlroy’s stance so riveting is his extraordinary success across the two previous FedEx Cup formats. McIlroy is the only player to have won the FedEx Cup three times, once under the points reset system of 2016 and twice under the current staggered start format in 2019 and 2022.
Despite his reservations, McIlroy did concede some merit in the proposed format. “I do appreciate the concept of the format – the brackets, seedings, and such. But I question whether it’s suitable for this particular tournament,” he added.
McIlroy’s position on the format debate is particularly noteworthy considering the evolution of the FedEx Cup and his own success across different systems.
Since its inception in 2007, the FedEx Cup format has undergone several changes. Initially, four playoff events were held where points were accumulated, leading to scenarios where the champion was essentially decided before the final tournament, as was the case with Vijay Singh in 2008. This format was tweaked in 2009, reducing the playoff events to three and adjusting the points system to keep more players in contention until the end.
The 2019 format change was significant, granting the top player a substantial advantage at the final tournament by starting at 10-under par, with others receiving fewer strokes based on their ranking. This change addressed the anomaly of a player winning the tournament but not the FedEx Cup. However, it has sparked debate about whether the final four rounds at East Lake carry too much weight in determining the best season-long performer.
As we approach the Tour Championship in August 2025, the question remains how the PGA Tour will navigate these potential changes. The challenge is to reconcile traditional approaches with innovative ideas, ensuring fairness for players while maintaining viewer interest. The PGA Tour must also decide whether to heed McIlroy’s caution or proceed with the significant changes triggered by Scheffler’s criticism.