"I love when they copy LIV"; "Approve" - Fans react to PGA Tour planning to change the Tour Championship format

Fans on social media have reacted to the reports about the PGA Tour looking to change the format of the Tour Championship. The season-ending championship also marks the end of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Currently, it takes place in stroke play with players teeing off with starting scores based on their FedEx Cup ranking.

However, as per a report by The Athletic, the PGA Tour has been considering implementing a bracket-style format for the Tour Championship. Nuclr Golf recently shared the news about the reported change in the Tour Championship's format, writing:

"PGA TOUR in ‘advanced’ discussions to introduce a bracket style format for the TOUR Championship with stroke play and match play being discussed as options. The change could begin as early as this season."

This ignited mixed reactions from the fans in the comment section. Some compared it to LIV Golf while others approved of the possible change.

"Lmao i love when they copy Liv, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Pgat is pathetic," another fan wrote.

"Approve- make the bracket after 1st 2 rounds of stroke play or make the bracket from aggregate of prev 2 playoff tourney scores," a fan wrote.

Several other fans reacted in the comments section:

"Feels like this would deliver a better product than the current format. The causal viewer has a hard time understanding how the strokes are aggregated. The sooner we can get this, the better," another fan said.

"It’s really annoying how sports continue to try to fix things that aren’t broken. Golf used to be the one constant. Not anymore," another fan added.

Here are more fans reactions:

Fans reactions ((Image via X/@NUCLRGOLF)

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Format change of the Tour Championship over the years

The Tour Championship has witnessed several changes over the years. Its current staggered start format has been in place since 2019. Prior to that, the Tour awarded players with two trophies. One trophy was given to the winner of the Tour Championship and another to the winner of the FedEx Cup. However, it was changed in 2018, and since 2019 the starting stroke play format has been used.

In the current format, the players topping the FedEx Cup standings have an advantage in the Tour Championship, as they start the game at 10-under. The 30-player field has starting strokes based on their rankings.

Here are the starting strokes for the Tour Championship in 2024:

• 10 under: Scottie Scheffler
• 8 under: Xander Schauffele
• 7 under: Hideki Matusyama
• 6 under: Keegan Bradley
• 5 under: Ludvig Aberg
• 4 under: Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay
• 3 under: Sungjae Im, Sahith Theegala, Shane Lowry, Adam Scott, Tony Finau
• 2 under: Byeong Hun An, Viktor Hovland, Russell Henley, Akshay Bhatia, Robert MacIntyre
• 1 under: Billy Horschel, Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Matthieu Pavon, Taylor Pendrith
• Even: Chris Kirk, Tom Hoge, Aaron Rai, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Justin Thomas

With the new changes, the players will have byes. However, if the changes come into play in 2025, the field and schedule for this year's Tour Championship will remain the same.