The PGA TOUR's Best React to the TOUR Championship Changes

On Tuesday, the PGA TOUR announced several changes to the TOUR Championship, including the end of the staggered start, which was implemented in 2019. All 30 players will now start at even par, and the winner come Sunday afternoon will be both the TOUR Championship and FedEx Cup champion.

If you make it to Atlanta, you have a shot to win the whole damn thing.

Well, we didn’t have to wait very long to learn how the best players on the circuit feel about the changes. Most of them are in Dublin, Ohio, for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, the latest signature event.

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Here’s what Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa had to say about the tweaks we’ll see later this summer in the ATL.

PGA TOUR Stars React to TOUR Championship Changes

Scottie Scheffler

“I think when you're looking at a golf tournament, I think the best way to identify the best player over the course of a tournament is 72-hole stroke play on a really good golf course," Scheffler said.

"When you look at a good test of golf and you got to compete over four days, I think that's the best way to crown the best winner for that week. And looking at the TOUR Championship, I didn't love the previous format of starting strokes, and I really like the direction where we're going. I think the TOUR Championship's going to be difficult to qualify for. Making the TOUR Championship is truly going to be the results from a great body of work over the course of a season, and then you have an opportunity to win the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup.”

Justin Thomas

“I'm excited. I think it's obviously something different and something new, which I think a lot of us players felt was needed," Thomas said.

"All of us want to have the excitement. We want you guys to have the excitement, and the fans, and us players to have the opportunity to go to the TOUR Championship and win the FedExCup. And it's always been a big deal, but I think players are starting to just realize how much harder it is to get to the TOUR Championship than maybe any of us realized, to where I think we're fully understanding and grasping that, if you're at the TOUR Championship and you're at that final event, then you have all the right in the world to walk away with the FedExCup. That's something I know that I'm behind and I think a lot of people are [too].”

Xander Schauffele

“It seems to be more aligned with sort of how other playoffs work. Golf is really the most merit-based sport, unless I'm off my rocker here," Shauffele said.

"And now East Lake and winning the TOUR Championship, I think it's the same thing. Everyone is trying to hoist that trophy and that part hasn't changed at all. It's just the way we're going to go about it is a little bit different, and I think it will be easier to follow for fans now that everyone is starting at level. And, shoot, if you make it in as 30th—I made it in as 27th before, you really have a nice look at trying to win this thing.”

Collin Morikawa

“I think it's good. Golf's so hard to put in a playoff aspect because people can go on runs. People—you could be the best player in January or February and not be the best player in July or August. But for us making that TOUR Championship is very important. Every year," Morikawa said.

"No matter how you play, when you look back and you say you made the TOUR Championship, no matter what your goals are—yes, some guys have different goals, but you look back and you're like, okay, you know, '22 and '23 were two of my, I felt like, the worst years I was playing golf, yet I made the TOUR Championship. And when you look back and you get there on Monday you're like, Okay, we're doing something right, we're finding a way to play golf and be the best on TOUR. And now you give yourself a chance to win the FedExCup. And that's all that matters. I think when I've started at roughly even par or 1-under you're like, Man, I just got to ball out. Like, I got to go crazy. Hopefully I have four insane days and we'll see. But now, like every other sport, you have a chance to win essentially your championship. And that's what you get here.”