The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday its decision to transition back to a traditional stroke-play format for the Tour Championship, effectively ending the starting-strokes model that has been utilized since 2019. This decision follows a vote held by the Tour policy board and will be enacted this season.

Returning to a traditional stroke-play format means all 30 golfers participating in the PGA Tour Championship will start on equal footing. Previously, under the starting-strokes format, the top-ranked players began the tournament with significant leads. For instance, the leading player would kick off the championship with a starting score of 10 under par.

This format had faced criticism, with reigning FedExCup champion Scottie Scheffler deeming it “silly.” He, as the top-ranked player last year, commenced the Tour Championship with a 10-stroke advantage but ultimately claimed his first FedExCup title, finishing four shots ahead of Colin Morikawa.

“We aspire for the Tour Championship to be the toughest tournament to qualify for and for the FedExCup to be the hardest trophy to win,” said Scheffler. “Moving the Tour Championship to a more traditional format, combined with a tougher course, enhances fan engagement and provides a significant challenge for the players, promoting the best competition.”

This year, the Tour Championship will continue with its exclusivity, consisting of the top-30 players based on points accrued over the season. The size of the field is confirmed to be 30 players, although a recent memo indicates this number may change in the future. Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, remarked that the Player Advisory Council played a crucial role in assessing elements of the PGA Tour season, leading to today’s announcement—a vital step in the evolution of the postseason, which aims to deliver the most competitive golf with the highest stakes in a clear and engaging format.

While this shift is notable, there remains an incentive for players to accumulate FedExCup points throughout the season, with last year’s prize purse for the Tour Championship reaching $100 million.

However, with the elimination of starting-strokes, top competitors not concerned about falling out of the top-30 standings may be inclined to miss more tournaments than before, potentially including notable players like Rory McIlroy, who is set to skip the Memorial Tournament this Thursday.