The PGA Tour has cut the prize for winning the FedEx Cup from $25 million to $10 million. The Tour has also introduced a new way of distributing the $100 million bonus pool. These changes come after the Tour revised the format of the season-ending tournament.
PGA Make Significant Changes To FedEx Cup Prize and Bonus Structure
The winner of this season’s PGA Tour FedEx Cup will only get $10 million, down from a record $25 million from the last two years, as part of key changes to the playoff bonus money structure. The new format spreads the $100 million bonus pool across three stages instead of awarding most of it at the end of the Tour Championship.
After the Wyndham Championship, the top 10 players in the regular season standings will split $20 million, with the first-place player taking home $10 million. The top 30 players in the standings will share $22.93 million, with $5 million going to the leader after the BMW Championship, while the top 30 players will also share $40 million, with the winner getting $10 million after the Tour Championship. Another $17.08 million will be deferred and paid to players ranked 31st to 150th in the final FedEx Cup standings.
The Tour also scrapped the unpopular “starting strokes” system at the Tour Championship. That system gave players a head start based on their FedEx Cup points. Now, all 30 players will start at even par and compete over four rounds like a regular tournament.
Bold Reform or Risk Move For PGA Tour?
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the goal is to make every stage of the playoffs meaningful. Players will have more chances to earn big money before the final event. The Tour also hopes the even-par start at the Tour Championship will make the finale more exciting for fans.
Some players and fans like the changes. They say the new system finally rewards consistency. Last season, Scottie Scheffler dominated the regular season but struggled at the Tour Championship. Many felt the old system did not reflect his season-long success. The new format gives players like Scheffler a better chance to earn big rewards before the final week. It also gives every player an equal chance to win the Tour Championship on the course, without confusing starting strokes.
However, not everyone agrees with the changes. Cutting the winner’s prize from $25 million to $10 million raises questions. Some believe it takes the shine off the Tour Championship, and there are worries that this makes the PGA Tour less attractive compared to rival tours like LIV Golf, which offer huge paydays. Although the PGA Tour says no one is losing money because the total bonus pool stays at $100 million, spreading the money around could make the final event feel less special.
Main Photo Credit: © Butch Dill-Imagn Images
