PGA Tour plans major changes to FedExCup Playoffs

Even the might of the US PGA Tour feels it is fighting a losing battle by taking on the opening of the NFL in the US.

It has prompted some major, even if a little confusing, changes for the FedEx Playoffs in 2019.

FedEx Cup

For starters there will only be three events in the playoffs instead of four, with last weekend’s Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston the one likely to miss out.

It means the playoffs will be decided before the end of August.

Another change will be to the Tour Championship in an effort to end some of the confusion that has surrounded the fact that the winner of the final event of the season might not necessarily win the FedEx Cup.

Reported changes are expected to include a new scoring format that places the FedEx Cup leader at 10-under-par to start the tournament, with a staggered advantage for others based on their ranking entering the week.

It seems the best way to avoid all those confusing scenarios with multiple outcomes based on who wins, and it is also expected to ensure a more enjoyable viewing experience for the spectators.

But the best thing about that is it also eliminates the possibility of a dual winner, which we saw last year with Justin Thomas winning the FedEx Cup while Xander Schauffele was the winner of the Tour Championship.

Certainly most of the Tour players agree to the proposed changes.

“In all sports you’ve got to win the final game of the year to win,” said former US PGA champion Jimmy Walker.

“If they want it to be a real playoff, you have to win the final event to win the whole thing.

“I guess that’s where they’re going, so I think that’s probably right where it’s supposed to be.”

With the TPC Boston out of the rotation, the playoffs will go from four events to three and the Northern Trust will alternate between Liberty National in New Jersey and Boston, with the Tour Championship finishing on August 25.