In a major shift that’s generating widespread buzz in the golf world, the PGA Tour has announced it will eliminate the controversial ‘starting strokes’ format at the Tour Championship, reverting to the traditional 72-hole stroke play structure beginning next season. This change marks a significant return to golf’s classic roots and has received strong reactions from both players and fans.

Introduced in 2019, the ‘starting strokes’ system gave players a head start at the Tour Championship based on their FedExCup standings. The No. 1 seed began the tournament at 10-under par, with others staggered behind. While intended to simplify the FedExCup finale and guarantee a single winner, the format often confused casual viewers and was criticized for feeling artificial or unfair.

Now, the PGA Tour is scrapping that model. Under the new (and old) format, all 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship will start from even par and compete over four rounds, with the lowest aggregate score winning the tournament.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan commented on the decision, stating, “Our goal has always been to deliver a fair, compelling conclusion to the season. After listening to feedback from players, fans, and broadcasters, we believe this change restores the integrity and excitement of the final event.”

Many professional golfers have welcomed the move. Several top players, including past FedExCup champions, have long voiced concerns that starting strokes diminished the spirit of competition. Returning to a level playing field rewards those who perform best during the week, rather than relying on prior rankings.

Fan reactions have also been overwhelmingly positive. Social media platforms are filled with praise for the decision, with many celebrating the return of “true golf” where every shot counts from Day 1 to the final putt.

However, some still believe that the Tour should have kept a system that ties in season-long performance more directly. To address this, the PGA Tour will maintain the FedExCup points system to determine eligibility and seeding, but the Tour Championship winner and FedExCup winner will no longer automatically be the same—a split that mirrors how major tournaments operate.

This bold step by the PGA Tour is set to reshape the FedExCup Playoffs, bringing more drama, unpredictability, and fairness to the Tour Championship.