Players react to new simplified FedExCup Playoffs

ATLANTA – Players may always prefer more trophies, but next year, they will gladly celebrate having both hands to lift the FedExCup at the conclusion of the TOUR Championship.

Gone will be the days when a player lifted both the TOUR Championship trophy and the FedExCup, as well as the days when two players shared the stage on a Sunday evening at East Lake.

The increased simplicity of the TOUR’s season-long points race overshadowed the loss of a trophy, in this case the replica of Bobby Jones’ famous Calamity Jane putter (the TOUR is seeking another way to honor Jones’ legacy and his hickory-shafted putter).

“I think clearly the goal was to have one championship here, not the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup and two … trophies,” said Justin Rose, who is No. 2 in this season’s standings. “It's nice to be juggling trophies on a Sunday. But I think just to simplify everything for the viewers, OK, this is the one-and-done finish to the TOUR.”

The FedExCup’s new format, which was announced Tuesday at East Lake Golf Club, has simplified the quest for the TOUR’s season-long points race. It’s no longer necessary for players, fans and media to simultaneously check the scoreboard and projected FedExCup standings.

The leaderboard will tell the whole story. The winner of the TOUR Championship also will be crowned the FedExCup champion. Players will be rewarded for their position in the FedExCup standings with a lower starting position in relation to par at the start of the TOUR Championship.

Instead of a points reset at East Lake, the TOUR is instituting a strokes-based bonus system related to the FedExCup standings through the BMW Championship. The FedExCup leader through the first two Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10 under par. The next four players will start at -8 through -5, respectively. The next five will begin at -4, regressing by one stroke per five players until players 26-30 start at even par.

The player atop the leaderboard at week’s end will be the FedExCup champion.

“It makes it a lot less complicated, that’s for sure,” said Tiger Woods, the FedExCup’s only two-time champion. “We’ve made it a lot easier on [NBC/Golf Channel reporter] Steve Sands. … It’s very different, but I think it has simplified things, not only for the players but certainly for the fans.”

The new format for the TOUR Championship was one of several changes announced Tuesday. The Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will reward players for their regular-season performance, and the FedExCup bonus money will be increased, with $15 million going to next year’s winner.

The TOUR Championship’s unique, new format was the biggest news, though. Players are accustomed to starting an event on even footing. Now a player could begin Thursday with a two-shot lead or staring at a 10-shot deficit.

“I think mentally it might seem a little different, but at the end of the day, that change is just for the public to understand our format better and understand the equations versus like looking at 15 different potential scenarios,” said Xander Schauffele, the TOUR Championship’s defending champion.

The PGA TOUR consulted with an MIT expert in simulation modeling and operations research the validate the approach used to develop the new system. Simulations of past FedExCups played under the new format returned the same winner, with just two exceptions. Luke Donald would have won in 2011 instead of Bill Haas. Donald also would have been in a playoff with Jim Furyk in 2010. Furyk won the FedExCup that year.

“He's owed $20 million as of next year,” joked Rose about Donald, his fellow Englishman.

Past results won’t be amended, of course, but players will face an unprecedented position next year.

A 10-shot deficit may sound daunting, but Dustin Johnson said that East Lake is an ideal venue for someone starting that far back.

“Obviously you want to be in that No. 1 spot so you start ahead, but no matter what, with this golf course, you can make up a lot of strokes with a good round,” he said. “Even if you're starting at 10 under, you're going to have to play well for four days if you want to win.

“It's nice that you don't have to be No. 1 coming in here to win. The 30th guy has a chance to win."

Just as in years past, players lower in the FedExCup standings can only win the Cup if they get help from those ahead of them. No matter the format, the advantage is given to those who have excelled all season.

“Good golf is still going to get rewarded season-long, which is important for us,” Rose said.