Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. HOME News Politics Royal Showbiz & TV Sport Comment Finance Travel Life & Style Football Tennis F1 Boxing UFC Cricket Rugby Golf Racing NFL NBA Other Rory McIlroy has defended the FedEx Cup format, which former world number one Jon Rahm criticised during his time on the PGA Tour. 16: 01, Thu, Aug 15, 2024 | UPDATED: 16: 01, Thu, Aug 15, 2024
Rory McIlroy has spoken about the format of the FedEx Cup (Image: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has voiced his support for the PGA Tour and the FedEx Cup format as the St Jude Championship gets underway. The playoff event in Memphis is one of three that will crown the FedEx Cup champion, with three-time winner McIlroy looking to add to his record tally.
The FedEx Cup is based on PGA Tour points totals from January to August, with the best 70 players qualifying for the St Jude Championship. From there, only 50 golfers will advance to the BMW Championship. A victory in either playoff is worth a huge 2,000 extra points, four times what’s awarded at regular PGA events.
The grand finale at the Tour Championship brings the top 30 contenders head-to-head, with their point tallies reflected in a divisive staggered-stroke format to help build suspense over who will win the £19.4million ($25m) grand prize. Despite claims of unfairness from several top players, including LIV Golf star Jon Rahm, McIlroy has praised the PGA for creating a way to end the season with a unique twist.
“I love this format because if it wasn’t this format, then none of us would have a chance against Scottie [Scheffler] because he’s so far ahead,” McIlroy said before the St Jude Championship. “He’s so far ahead, and you don’t expect Scottie to finish outside the top five, either. By the way I think it makes the Tour Championship more exciting from a consumer standpoint.”
McIlroy conceded that it is not a perfect system, though, adding: “Is it the fairest reflection of who’s been the best player of the year? Probably not. But I think at this point we’re not in for totally fair, we’re in for entertainment and for trying to put on the best product we possibly can. The first year that it was the starting strokes at Tour Championship in 2019, I was able to win that one, and then in ’22 again.
“I like this format. It sort of feels like it’s a bit of a reset after the regular season,” and adding, “Everyone is not quite on a level playing field, but it feels a little more like that.”
Rory McIlroy won the FedEx Cup for a third time in 2022 (Image: Rankin White/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Combining season and playoff points totals, the FedEx Cup allows the leader to begin the Tour Championship on 10-under with a two-shot lead over second place, while those at the bottom of the pack start on par.
LIV Golfers are ineligible for the FedEx Cup. However, before turning his back on the PGA in December, former world number one Jon Rahm rejected the notion that three FedEx Cup events should be used to decide a season champion.
Speaking in 2021, Rahm pulled no punches when asked about the format: “I don’t like it, I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t like that at all. I think you have the play-offs itself and win the first two, and if you don’t play good on the last one, you can end up with a really bad finish,” he explained.
“You could win 15 events, including both playoff events, and you have a two-shot lead. I understand it’s for TV purposes and excitement and just making it more of a winner-take-all, and they give you a two-shot advantage, but over four days that can be gone in two holes.”
IPSO Regulated Copyright ©2024 Express Newspapers. “Daily Express” is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
Be First to Comment