Schauffele on Tour Champs: "People are confused... it's NOT a finished product"

Xander Schauffele admits a lot of people are still "confused" about the Tour Championship format.

22 Aug 2023

Schauffele on Tour Champs: "People are confused... it's NOT a finished product" — Schauffele on Tour Champs: "People are confused... it's NOT a finished…

Xander Schauffele believes the format of the Tour Championship is "still not a finished product" despite its staggered strokes scoring system now in place for a fifth year at East Lake.

Schauffele, 29, no doubt still feels a little aggrieved given he won the Tour Championship in 2017 but finished third in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings.

Justin Thomas, who he defeated by one stroke at East Lake that week, ended up winning the FedEx Cup as the format was much different back then.

If Zach Johnson dodges Brooks Koepka for a Ryder Cup pick then he truly hates LIV Golf
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— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) August 22, 2023

The Tour Championship was then won by Tiger Woods in 2018 with the FedEx Cup going to Justin Rose that season.

The PGA Tour then decided to change the format with a staggered strokes system so the winner of the Tour Championship was crowned winner of the FedEx Cup.

It was designed to make everyone know where they stood heading into the Tour Championship, as opposed to needing a PhD in mathematics.

But Schauffele is not convinced it's had the desired effect, at least not yet.

Although the Tour Championship now enters a fifth year with its revamped handicap start where the leader starts on 10-under par, Schauffele believes many average punters are still left confused in the FedEx Cup finale.

Schauffele said:

"I haven't thought of a way to make it better. I still believe that when I talk to some friends and people they still feel like a little confused on how it all happens. I think this is supposed to be like our most important event all year. It kind of comes down to this moment. And, like, for people to be like a little bit confused, it's still not a finished product to me in that sense."

Jon Rahm also thinks change is needed.

Schauffele was also asked what he makes of the PGA Tour's stunning new alliance with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Jon Rahm on gambling interactions in crowd on PGA Tour: "We hear it every single round"
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— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) August 22, 2023

Only he's a bit confused about that, too.

Schauffele said:

"I mean, I'm very certain that I know very little. Which means I don't know a lot. I, honestly, I have no idea what's been going on. So, just trying to win golf tournaments and kind of back to that whole transcript. Maybe that's the wrong word. But just that whole thought process."

Scottie Scheffler will start on 10-under par at the Tour Championship as he goes in search of his first FedEx Cup title.

Vitkor Hovland, who won the BMW Championship last week, will start in second place on 8-under par, while record holder Rory McIlroy, who is bidding to win a fourth FedEx Cup, starts on 7-under par.

Rahm is in fourth on 6-under par.

Here's all the starting scores & odds

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