News
The FedEx Cup overhaul is official. Here are the details
The PGA Tour substantiated the rumored changes to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Tuesday, unveiling a new playoff format in general, an overhaul of the Tour Championship in particular, and a new regular season points race.
As had been previously established, the Tour will move from four playoff events to three. Most dramatically, the rumored staggered Tour Championship scoring, with the No. 1 player on the points list starting at 10 under, is now a reality. The next four players in the standings will being a 8 under through 5 under. No 6-10 will start at 4 under. Every five players after that will start a stroke further back, with No. 26 through 30 beginning at even par.
There will also now be a $10 million regular season bonus pool sponsored by Wyndham Rewards, aptly named the “Wyndham Rewards Top 10.”
The FedEx Cup Playoffs will wrap prior to Labor Day, thus finishing before the NFL season kicks off. The field for The Northern Trust will be 125 players, 70 for the BMW Championship, and 30 for the Tour Championship, with the points remaining the same for the first two events.
“This is a significant and exciting change for the PGA Tour, our players, our partners and – most importantly – our fans,” said PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan. “As soon as the Tour Championship begins, any fan – no matter if they’ve followed the PGA Tour all season or are just tuning in for the final event – can immediately understand what’s going on and what’s at stake for every single player in the field. And, of course, players will know exactly where they stand at all times while in play, which will ratchet up the drama, consequence and volatility of the competition down the stretch.”
Regarding the $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10, the Tour says it, “will also put an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the FedExCup Regular Season.”
The leader of the top 10 will earn $2 million, with the runner-up pocketing $1.5 million. The existing FedEx Cup bonus pool will now total $60 million—$25 million more than the existing pool. Accordingly, the FedEx Cup champion will earn $15 million, rather than the $10 million in the current system.
Alternatively, there’s Geoff Shackelford’s summary of the changes: “This will be easier to follow than the current system where algorithms proved consistently boring to follow. This has to be better…the FedExCup as we knew it, did not work.”
- LIKE36
- LEGIT2
- WOW3
- LOL9
- IDHT2
- FLOP18
- OB11
- SHANK166
News
Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board
|
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- LIKE6
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
News
Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board
|
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB1
- SHANK3
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole6 days ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
SNAKE FARR
Aug 16, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Pga tour has officially been reduced to a net event? Will 2020 usopen give the defending champ a 10 under par start before any one hits a shot? Welcome to the 8th flight club tournament at Bushwood !!!! Changing basic rules of golf scoring so tv watchers that have never played wont get confused. Pga be ashamed!!
P Cleeve
Sep 20, 2018 at 4:26 am
This will totally alienate ALL viewers and leave the PGA Tour totally alone Internationally, whereas the other Tours will now go forward by being guided, not by greed and demand to be the “ONLY” tour, but by being receptive to informed viewers requests and a genuine interest in ALL players best interests no matter what standing they have. Greed is a killer.
Mat
Sep 20, 2018 at 2:22 am
Just to add to the reasons this is stupid, not that it should require any more…
The incentive is now that the top seed will be rewarded for playing *conservatively*. Think about that… play it safe is the right way to play. That’s just so backwards.
If you think you should be giving an advantage, fine. I’d be ok with giving major winners a first round match bye, and I’d also be fine with an even match going to the higher seed after 18, no playoff. Seeding becomes a natural advantage. But the idea that the scoring of a single tournament will be modified makes this right about a local over-50’s weekender.
I honestly hope this costs the commissioner his job. Where other parts of the world are getting rave reviews for 6s golf, this is going to be the short, mistake era of the PGA.
Tom54
Sep 19, 2018 at 6:00 pm
I agree with many of the comments about how asinine this new formula is for the FedEx playoffs. Hopefully before the new wraparound season starts which by the was is pretty dumb too,they will have time to come up with something better. Who in the world thought this through gods sake?
Ron Owens
Sep 19, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Really? A tournament where players start at various strokes under par? Stupid!
Everyone starts at zero and plays the game. Best man wins. What’s so difficult about that?
HDTVMAN
Sep 19, 2018 at 1:23 pm
I just looked up the definition of the PGA Tour in the on-line dictionary: “A very rich group of gentlemen, who play for extremely large amounts of money, a 501c3 non-profit, lead by a commissioner and board equivalent to the characters in ‘Dumb & Dumber'”.
Gary Ahlert
Sep 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm
This is beyond stupid. Either these guys are on drugs or ought to be. Absolutely nuts. Ta Ta PGA. Youve lost me as viewr. Stop trying to gimic everything up
GHN
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:32 pm
I like it! It is simply not a normal tour event it is the FedEx Cup playoff and giving the leader 10 strokes over the last 4 guys in the field makes perfect sense. It will be much better then trying to figure out what is on the white board! The players and the fans will know where everyone stands and every player will know what they need to do to win.
Yawning
Sep 19, 2018 at 12:23 pm
You’ve made it simpler Mr. Monahan, simply buzz killing. Handicaps are for Ams.
Just neck the field down a couple times to 30, then match play with one seeding bye for the top 10 ranked players, based on season performance. But since the press releases already went out it seems we will have to endure at least one farce, the 2019 FedEx cup.
While you are in a “simplifying” mood, how about dumping the wrap-around season and go back to traditional calendar based scheduling ?
Dan
Sep 19, 2018 at 10:31 am
Oh and by the way it wasn’t the Playoffs or the Tour Championship format that needed revamping. It was the points accrued throughout the season. How is a player that hasn’t won at all ranked higher than a player who has won 2 majors. There is your problem!!
Dan
Sep 19, 2018 at 9:43 am
Wow! Now I’ve heard it all. We are giving professional golfers handicaps. What a sham. Pretty surprised the player’s board allowed that to happen. Now the Tour Championship is a meaningless made for TV event. Hot garbage!!
Roy
Sep 19, 2018 at 9:07 am
Guess there is a reason the NFL dosen’t start the playoffs with one team up 14-0 at the opening kickoff….
Scheiss
Sep 19, 2018 at 3:09 am
So, so dumb.
It should be simple, like this:
Play the usual season and collect moneys as usual; the top 144 of the Money List qualify for the Final 4 events. No need for points. No need to worry about who won how many times. Just make them all just go out there and get the moneys.
Then play cut-line.
1st Final Event, the 144 players get cut to 108.
QuarterFinal, cut to 72.
SemiFinal, cut to 36.
Final, just 1 Winner. Gets the Cup.
Simples!
They’ll be hungry and will be gunning for it at the end. No need to shuffle anything around, no points needed, just do it by earnings to qualify.
bogeypro
Sep 18, 2018 at 9:52 pm
wow, just wow…. no words for how dumb this is. just do a 32 man match play. Handicapping a pga event is ridiculous.
Mat
Sep 19, 2018 at 7:52 am
Couldn’t agree more. I’d prefer nothing better than a simple bracket. I’d want 28, so that your four major winners get a bye.
But anything other than match play is revolting.
Jacob Bengtson
Sep 18, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Garbage, match play or nothing. Looks like I won’t even be watching anything after the Us open for the 20th year in a row.
Liberty Apples
Sep 18, 2018 at 8:50 pm
So the Tour Championship is now a handicapped event? Utter nonsense.
Rebill One
Sep 18, 2018 at 6:39 pm
I thought the real final event was Phil vs Tiger.
Jill Ouellette
Sep 18, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Really dumb thing to do! We don’t care if one person wins the Tour Championship and another the Cup. If you make it to the final 30, you should have an equal chance in the Tour Championship. Your overall performance should be the determining factor, not just one tournament. What you’ve done does not increase interest–in fact, just the opposite.
Jack
Sep 19, 2018 at 9:41 am
You are so right Jill! The entire PGA Tour staff should be tested for substance abuse. That has to be the only explanation for this mind-numbing decision.
emb
Sep 18, 2018 at 3:35 pm
so you’re 6th in points for the entire year and you start the Tour Championship 6 shots back? that seems a little extreme, I feel like the leader is given too much of an advantage but I’m sure they’ll tweak it after next year as well depending on results. Wonder how long it’ll be before they go 2 full seasons without changing anything
Knarls Barkley
Sep 18, 2018 at 3:16 pm
I still think Greg Norman got jobbed for having come up with this idea of an elite level playoff system, presenting it to the Tour, and they poo poo’d it, ONLY TO PRESENT THEIR OWN VERSION OF IT!! AND THE SYSTEM IS STILL COCAMAMIE NONSENSE!!
Ryan Michael
Sep 18, 2018 at 3:15 pm
128 man match play event make it short and sweet for all the marbles and most importantly it simplifies things!
dat
Sep 18, 2018 at 2:53 pm
This scoring system sounds like something a network exec. came up with who has never played golf in his life.
Graham Fee
Sep 18, 2018 at 2:18 pm
I really dislike this, seems very foolish to change a system that was working to something convoluted. If this is a reaction to the possibility of someone winning the FedEx Cup without a win, it sure is an extreme reaction. I have no issue with Finau winning the Cup – shows he has been playing well all year. I like the regular season race – good addition. The starting a tournament with under-par scores already on the board – no thanks! I think this cheapens the perception of the Tour Championship overall.
kevin
Sep 18, 2018 at 2:56 pm
if the winner of the final event didn’t take home the fedex trophy….it wasn’t a playoff.
no one likes watching an event where math is needed to calulate whether or not the guy finishing the last tournament in 2nd or 3rd would actually be the overall winner.
the new system, although not perfect, is a step in right direction. however i’d rather see a final 8 match play event.
Rebill One
Sep 18, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Final 8 match play is a great idea!
Tom
Sep 18, 2018 at 1:46 pm
The timing of this is strange, two days before the 2018 finals you reveal the next version?
Basically inferring the current program isn’t very good, puts a cloud over this week’s event?
kevin
Sep 18, 2018 at 2:56 pm
agreed. but it wasn’t a secret the current system is garbage
Midwest Blade
Sep 18, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Seems like they are really forcing the effort to create something exciting. These season ending events look more and more like every other event during the season and are probably not gaining much in audience or interest. There are always certain events throughout the year that I do really enjoy watching, The Masters has always been the start to the season, followed by the US Open, The Open and finally the PGA. Throw in The Players and a couple of other events like the old Western Open, anything played at Firestone and that was a wrap for the majority of my golf viewing. Week after week of golf tournaments looking like the week before are not gaining fans. Weekly money is so large that fields in the off weeks seem to be getting weaker and weaker. All the top players schedule for the major’s, WGC’s (non cut events, guarantees $’s) and a few other events. Why can’t the season end with a simple two event run, top 80 make the series which is then cut to 40 for a final tour championship, simple, clean and easy to understand. No strokes, no points, simply top 80 on the money list make the finals.