After 12 months, 44 events only one event remains on the 2021-22 PGA Tour schedule — the Tour Championship. The annual event is hosted at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta and welcomes the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings. The final tournament has the makings of being exciting as it is usually one of the strongest fields of the entire season. It should be fun, but I am not convinced that the current set up is really the best way to finish off the long grueling season.
After years of complaining from golfers, the FED EX format was changed to a handicap system that benefits the players that have demonstrated the most consistent results over the season. I am not convinced that this is the best way to go, but they have settled on this format and that is the way it goes. If you are wondering, the 30 players teeing it up on Thursday will start in these positions:
As you can see, the number one golfer in the world has a huge lead over the rest of the field. Scheffler is starting from a position of strength and the chances of players like Adam Scott or Aaron Wise catching him are remote at best. I think the lead the by the number on players in the FED EX standings is too great to over come for any player not in the top 15 and more likely in the top 10.
If this is the case, what is the point of having the last 15 players in the field except to make money. With 75 million up for grabs (and the winner taking home 18 million) the Tour Championship is all about the money. With a field of only 30 players, I am not sure it is as exciting to watch as a Major. There is more down time between shots and depending on how well everyone is playing, only a handful will be featured on TV.
I understand the importance of having a final tournament, but I am not convinced of the Tour Championships format. Regardless, it should be a great tournament to watch and I am looking forward to watching some magic by the best players in 2022. Thoughts?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
I don’t mind the format. The weighted system makes no difference to me one way or the other, but it does to the players. Since this is the “season finale’ I can see some sense in being able to carry forward your seasons success into the final stretch. I mean if Aaron Wise can win the cup, under these rules, he’s certainly earned it. And if Scheffler is able to hold the rest off, that’s just like a say, a continuation of the season.
I can of think of it as Scheffler has so far earned the win and the rest have to unseat him to take it from him. And that’s not such a bad thing from a players perspective I don’t think.
That’s of course making the outrageous assumption that I can think like a player. lol
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Kevin,
I see your point, but the lead seems too great to make the event really competitive unless Scheffler completely falls apart. Earning a top seed is fair and is given to other teams and higher ranked individuals in other sports. It is a tough nut to crack for sure.
Cheers Jim
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“the lead seems too great to make the event really competitive”
That is kind of the point when talking about putting the leader in a situation to show how much he’s earned versus the field though. The entire point.
This is no different than Billy Horschel carrying his 5 stroke lead from day 3 to day 4 at this years Memorial. I don’t think that made the final round any less enjoyable to watch.
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Kevin,
It is a bit different because Horschel was extremely hot at that time and he played to that position. Every player started at the same point during the Memorial and as such made the race to the finish more fun to watch. Starting with a lead overly handicaps the other players. Regardless, we shall see how the weekend unfolds.
Cheers Jim
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I’d like to see the final 16 players compete in a match play format.
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Paul,
That would be fun for sure.
Cheers Jim
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As Patrick Cantlay said a few days ago. Having playoffs in golf is difficult. I think a match play format would be fun; however, it would not give the top points leaders any advantage. The NFL, MLB, NBA, etc all give the top teams some type of advantage in the playoffs such as bye or home field/court advantage. So how do you give the year long points leader(s) some type of advantage in match play? I think they’ve earned something. How about having 20 players in a match play field. The top 4 point getters are seeded 1,2,3,4. Then the remaining 16 players have a match play tournament to fill in seeds 5,6,7,8. Just a thought.
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David,
I agree that Match Play would be a better format. The advantage is that Scheffler would be seeded against the player with the lowest World Ranking. or FedEx standings. That is how the final four in basketball runs its tournament. I realize that there would be upsets, but that makes for exciting golf. Unfortunately, if Aaron Wise and Adam Scott were playing in the final match, the viewership might drop. That would not be acceptable to people making money from golf. I do not have a definitive answer, but match play would be the most fun to watch.
Cheers Jim
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And it’s a good thought. To me, this last tournament is boring. Any format involving match play strikes me as more dratic than the current format. Cheers.
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Paul
We definitely agree on this. A new format would definitely make the last tournament more of a draw.
Cheers Jim
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Jim, as the quest for money increases, the competitive integrity recedes. I too will watch but the format is ridiculous. Publish a list of the top 30 CEOs by compensation levels and track their quarterly income. You’d be doing the same thing.
Thanks,
Brian
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Brian,
Exactly, I like the final four approach that if you lose, you are done. I think the playing field should be level to win the tournament and then have the FEDEX points figured out for a different prize. Of course, it makes for good TV (not necessarily for golf) to see someone walk away with 18 mil. Really only the top 5 have a chance and probably only the top 3. We shall see.
Cheers Jim
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