August 27, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole during the closing round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Membership. Mandatory credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Photographs
Just call it August Madness.
The Athletic reported Friday that the PGA Tour is in “advanced discussions” that could lead to the season-ending Tour Championship being played pool-style, like the NCAA Tournament. According to the report, the Tour Championship, the final event of the three FedEx Cup Playoff tournaments, could feature head-to-head play, with players advancing through the bracket with each win.
According to the report, both stroke play and match play are being considered for the 30-player field.
Discussions currently involve the tour, player managers, corporate sponsors and television networks.
Part of the impetus for a change could be to add drama to the event, much like in the NCAA Tournament, when a No. 2 seed is upset by a No. 15. Under the current format, the highest-ranked players in the FedEx Cup The classification enters the Tour Championship with an advantage in points, which makes it more difficult to achieve surprises.
Changes could begin as early as the 2025 season. The Tour Championship is scheduled for Aug. 21-24 at East Lake Golf Membership in Atlanta.
Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion.
–Media at field level
