Call for overhaul of FedEx Cup system
ATLANTA: The complex and often criticised system for determining the FedEx Cup champion is again a topic of discussion at the Tour Championship this week in Atlanta.
And as he sets out to defend his 2021 title, Patrick Cantlay continues to be among the system’s detractors.
Before 2019, the winner of the Tour Championship did not necessarily win the seasonlong FedEx Cup title too. The PGA Tour changed it by tying the two together, so that any of the 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship had a theoretical shot at winning the FedEx Cup.
The PGA Tour accounted for the difference in FedEx Cup points among players by implementing a ‘‘staggered’’ start, in which the points leader begins the Tour Championship 10 under par, second place begins at 8 under and so on down the list.
Although a benefici ary of the system, Cant lay remains opposed to it.
‘‘I’ve talked before about it. I’m not a fan,’’ Cantlay said yesterday at East Lake Golf Club.
‘‘I think there’s got to be a better system, although frankly I don’t know what that better system is.’’
Cantlay rocketed into first position last year by winning the BMW Championship and the corresponding 2000 FedEx Cup points that come with winning either of the first two legs of the playoffs. He then held off Jon Rahm, of Spain, at East Lake to capture the FedEx Cup.
Cantlay did not score the lowest aggregate 72hole score that week. Rahm and Kevin Na did, at 14under 266. But Cantlay began the tournament at 10 under, enough of an advantage to edge Rahm.
‘‘I’ve played pretty poorly here in general other than last year,’’ Cantlay said.
He noted that Xander Schauffele shot the best 72hole score in 2020 after coming close in 2019, but still had not won a FedEx Cup.
Schauffele spoke to reporters later in the day and said there were always going to be ways the format could be improved.
‘‘I’ve obviously been on sort of both sides of that fence, too, from a competition standpoint,’’ Schauffele said.
‘‘I understand why it’s the way it is, but I think the overall consensus just from talking to players is maybe a sitdown needs to happen to sort of reshape it or try to make it better. At least come up with options and then show it to us or just give it a whirl.’’
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick entered the week 15th in points, meaning he will start the Tour Championship at 3 under. Players in sixth to 10th entering Atlanta are beginning at 4 under.
‘‘I don’t know who’s on one shot ahead of me. I don’t know who it is,’’ Fitzpatrick said.
‘‘But I feel like the guy that finished sixth and I finished 15th . . . I’m right in thinking he’s only one shot ahead of me [and] I think [that] is probably a little bit unfair, I guess. I feel like he probably should be more.’’
So how to solve it?
Fitzpatrick floated the idea of placing the qualifying players into a match play setting.
‘‘Golf is just so different to the other sports,’’ Fitzpatrick said.
‘‘That’s why I think looking at match play would probably be more of an answer, because you’ve got a team that makes the playoffs in last place or whatever and you don’t think they’re going to go anywhere, and then they end up going all the way. And then you could have a guy say in 90th gets all the way to the final.’’
As it stands this week, Scottie Scheffler will start the Tour Championship in 10 under, Cantlay in second at 8 under and Schauffele in third at 6 under. Will Zalatoris was set to start in third before he withdrew due to herniated discs in his back. — Field Level Media