The PGA Tour’s elimination of starting strokes creates a new competitive landscape as $100 million in prize money gets redistributed

The 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs commence this week at TPC Southwind with the most significant format changes in the competition’s recent history. For the first time since 2019, the season-ending Tour Championship will operate as a traditional stroke-play event, eliminating the controversial starting strokes system that had defined the playoffs’ conclusion.

The End of Starting Strokes

The PGA Tour officially announced in May the elimination of starting strokes, a format that awarded the FedEx Cup points leader a 10-under-par advantage entering the Tour Championship. The system, which staggered starting positions based on season-long performance, faced criticism from players and fans alike for its complexity and perceived artificiality.

Defending FedEx Cup champion Scottie Scheffler, who benefited from the format in his 2024 victory, previously described the system as “silly.” The elimination addresses longstanding concerns about competitive integrity while simplifying the championship format for viewers. Under the new structure, all 30 Tour Championship qualifiers will begin at even par, with the lowest 72-hole score determining both the tournament winner and FedEx Cup champion.

Restructured Prize Distribution

The format change coincides with a complete overhaul of the $100 million FedEx Cup bonus structure. Rather than concentrating the majority of prize money in a single $25 million payout to the Tour Championship winner, the tour has distributed rewards across multiple stages of the season.

The regular season points leader now receives $8 million, with an additional $10 million available to whoever leads the standings after the BMW Championship. The Tour Championship winner earns $10 million, though a player who maintains the points lead throughout all three stages could still collect approximately $25 million in total bonuses.

This redistribution represents a philosophical shift toward rewarding consistent season-long performance while maintaining competitive drama in the playoffs’ final event.

Heightened Competitive Pressure

The format changes create new psychological dynamics for playoff contenders. Previously, players with substantial points leads could afford mediocre performances at the Tour Championship while maintaining realistic chances of winning the FedEx Cup. The level playing field now demands peak performance when it matters most.

The elimination of stroke advantages particularly impacts players accustomed to playoff security. Season-long dominance no longer guarantees postseason success, placing greater emphasis on form and mental fortitude during the three-week playoff stretch.

Critical Qualifying Battles

The playoff structure’s elimination format creates intense pressure at each cut line. Only 70 players qualified for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with the field narrowing to 50 for the BMW Championship and ultimately 30 for the Tour Championship. The financial implications are substantial, with Tour Championship qualification worth approximately $2 million in guaranteed prize money.

This year’s qualifying drama was exemplified by Matti Schmid, who secured the 70th and final playoff spot by five points over Davis Thompson. Such narrow margins underscore the season-long importance of every tournament result and the career-altering consequences of playoff inclusion or exclusion.

Championship Contenders and Betting Markets

Scottie Scheffler enters as the overwhelming favorite at +280 odds, supported by four victories this season including two major championships. The world No. 1 has already secured $18 million in bonus money and maintains a commanding lead in the FedEx Cup standings.

However, the format changes theoretically improve the chances for players without substantial points advantages. Xander Schauffele (+1600) and Justin Thomas (+2200) now compete on equal footing, while momentum players like recent Wyndham Championship winner Cameron Young (+4000) could capitalize on hot streaks without overcoming artificial deficits.

The betting markets reflect this increased volatility, with oddsmakers acknowledging that pure stroke-play format favors in-form players over season-long leaders.