McIlroy Backs Format Change for Tour Championship

McIlroy praises new Tour Championship format

Rory McIlroy supports PGA Tour's decision to revamp Tour Championship format, eliminating starting strokes system.

Rory McIlroy is backing the PGA Tour's new format for the Tour Championship, which will feature all 30 players starting from level par. This change eliminates the previous “starting strokes” system, where players began the tournament with different handicaps based on their FedEx Cup standings. The new format aims to make the Tour Championship more exciting and fair for all participants.

Tournament Details:

• Location: East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta
• Prize: A $25 million first prize is up for grabs, not $10 million as previously mentioned
• Format: 72-hole stroke-play event with all players starting at even par
• Field: Top 30 players from the FedEx Cup standings

The world number one, Scottie Scheffler, will be a strong contender, having already expressed his support for the format change. Scheffler believes that the new system will make the Tour Championship more challenging and exciting for fans, with the best performer over four rounds winning the FedEx Cup. The PGA Tour has also announced adjustments to the course setup to encourage more risk-reward moments and dramatic finishes.

 

“I don’t know if it’s the best format, but it’s the one that we have for this week.”

Rory McIlroy says he didn’t hate the starting strokes format and talked about why it’s been difficult to find the best Tour Championship format. pic.twitter.com/5J7jmAJpDL

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) August 19, 2025

The PGA Tour's Tour Championship is undergoing a significant format change this season. Unlike previous years, where the leader in the FedEx Cup standings would start with a scoring advantage, this year's tournament will feature all 30 players starting from even par. Last year, Scottie Scheffler began the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead at 10 under par, reflecting his dominance of the FedEx Cup standings. However, with the new format, Scheffler and the rest of the field will be on an equal footing, competing over 72 holes to determine the champion.

McIlroy's Take:

McIlroy believes the new format creates a “clean slate for everyone,” allowing players to compete without any advantages or disadvantages based on their FedEx Cup standings. He thinks this format will bring out the best competition among players, making the tournament more thrilling for fans.

“It's a clean slate for everyone, and it's a great opportunity for one of the guys who maybe wasn't a huge part of the season to put their hand up and have a chance to win the big prize at the end of the year.

“It's also a great opportunity for some of the guys that have had great years to sort of rubber-stamp the season a little bit and end on a really, really positive note. I think there's still a lot to play for this week.”

Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts on the Tour Championship's format change, saying he was in the minority who “didn't hate” the starting strokes system. “I thought that the player who played the best during the course of the season should have had an advantage coming in here,” McIlroy explained. However, he acknowledged that most people didn't like the format, which is why the PGA Tour decided to switch to a conventional 72-hole stroke-play tournament.

Format Change Details:

Previous Format: The starting strokes system gave players a handicap based on their FedEx Cup standings, with the leader starting at a significant advantage.

New Format: The Tour Championship will now feature a standard 72-hole stroke-play format, where all players start at even par.

Considered Alternatives: McIlroy revealed that the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council (PAC) had considered switching to a match-play format but ultimately discarded the idea.

McIlroy's Perspective:

As a member of the PAC, McIlroy was involved in discussions about the format change. While he had reservations about abandoning the starting strokes system, he understands the reasoning behind the change and believes it will create a more exciting and unpredictable tournament.

”Match play was on the table, and that got canned for this year,” McIlroy said.

“I think it's just hard for the players to reconcile that we play stroke play for every week of the year, but then the season-ending tournament is going to be decided by match play.”

Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammate, is also on board with the PGA Tour's decision to revamp the Tour Championship format. “It's probably more exciting for the players to come here, everybody on a level field, knowing it's an unbelievable opportunity to have a great week, win the tournament and leave here unbelievably happy,” Fleetwood said. This change eliminates the starting strokes system, where players began with handicaps based on their FedEx Cup standings. Now, all 30 players will start at even par, competing for a $25 million bonus pool and the FedEx Cup title.

Player Reactions:

Scottie Scheffler: The world number one has expressed his support for the new format, stating that it will make the Tour Championship more challenging and exciting for fans.

Rory McIlroy: McIlroy also welcomes the change, believing it will create a more level playing field and make the tournament more unpredictable.

Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele: Both players have voiced their approval for the new format, noting that it will make the tournament more engaging for fans and give players a fair chance to compete.

The PGA Tour has revamped the Tour Championship format, ditching the starting strokes system in favor of a conventional 72-hole stroke-play tournament. This change gives all 30 players an equal shot at winning the FedEx Cup, with the best performer over four rounds taking home the title. Masters champion Rory McIlroy backs the move, saying it brings a different feel to the tournament.