The PGA Tour’s three-week-long playoffs, which kicks off Thursday in Memphis on the FedEx St. Jude Championship, continues to impress discussions concerning the format amongst high gamers.
Some, corresponding to Scottie Scheffler, don’t just like the construction of it. Scheffler even referred to as it “foolish,” including that he dislikes the notion that all of it comes right down to the season-ending Tour Championship, which makes use of a ‘Beginning Strokes Format.’ Underneath this format, the top-ranked participant—Scheffler in each 2022 and 2023—begins the event at 10-under-par, whereas the second-ranked participant within the FedEx Cup standings begins at 8-under. A participant’s beginning rating then continues to dwindle all the way in which to even par based mostly on their rating. Gamers between twenty sixth and thirtieth start the championship at even. Everybody in between begins at numerous ranges based mostly on their standing.
After all, solely the highest 30 gamers after the BMW Championship qualify for the Tour Championship, held at East Lake in Atlanta yearly. The highest 50 make it to the BMW—the penultimate occasion—whereas the highest 70 gamers earn a spot on this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. Making the highest 50 carries important weight, although, as a result of every participant who qualifies for the BMW Championship will get to ebook a ticket to all eight Signature Occasions in 2025—the 72-man tournaments with elevated purses.
However, because it pertains to the format, each Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa help it, thus disagreeing with the top-ranked participant on the earth.
“I like this format as a result of if it wasn’t this format, then none of us would have an opportunity in opposition to Scottie as a result of he’s up to now forward,” McIlroy stated.
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“So I actually like this format.”
Scheffler leads Xander Schauffele, the second-ranked participant, by practically 2,000 factors. McIlroy, who’s third, is 1,500 behind Schauffele, which exhibits how nicely Scheffler and Schauffele have performed all through 2024. Even then, Scheffler is in a tier of his personal.
In the meantime, Morikawa initially questioned this format, however he has since concluded that that is one of the best ways to finish a season.
“I believe the easy reply is sure. I believe with any sport, playoffs are playoffs, and generally one of the best groups—numerous the occasions, one of the best groups don’t win. What’s loopy about our sport is there’s a lot fluctuation and there’s a lot variables that you simply don’t understand how somebody goes to play. The most effective participant on the earth might have a nasty week, and it’s like, ‘Man, that week mattered greater than others.’ We now have 4 majors, you’ve got the playoffs, you’ve got The Gamers. These weeks matter extra, however generally folks have unhealthy weeks. That’s form of what our playoffs are,” Morikawa defined.
“I don’t suppose it’s an ideal system. I believe we’ve obtained to right down to, guys can complain, this, that. Should you’re one of the best and also you need to present up, it’s a must to present up, particularly on the Tour Championship. That’s simply how issues work. There’s lots on the road, however that’s what’s so powerful about our sport. It’s not such as you’re simply higher than each single particular person each single week. Any of those 70 guys this week might come out and win, and that’s what’s nice about our sport, however that’s what makes it powerful to crown a title.”
Certainly, the gamers have lots on the road. Like Signature Occasions, the FedEx St. Jude and BMW Championships have $20 million purses, however the winner of the Tour Championship, and thus the FedEx Cup, will get an extra $25 million.
“I believe [the format] makes the Tour Championship extra thrilling from a client standpoint. Is it the fairest reflection of who’s been one of the best participant of the 12 months? In all probability not. However I believe at this level we’re not in for completely honest, we’re in for leisure and making an attempt to placed on one of the best product we probably can,” McIlroy added.
“The primary 12 months that it was the beginning strokes at Tour Championship in 2019, I used to be in a position to win that one, after which in ‘22 once more. I like this format. It form of feels prefer it’s a little bit of a reset after the common season. Everybody will not be fairly on a stage taking part in subject, however it feels slightly extra like that.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.