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Tour Championship
Tour Championship
Tour Championship
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The Tour Championship (stylized as the TOUR Championship) is a golf tournament that is part of the PGA Tour. It has historically been one of the final events of the PGA Tour season; prior to 2007, its field consisted exclusively of the top 30 money leaders of the past PGA Tour season.

Key Information

Starting in 2007, it was the final event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs, with eligibility determined by FedEx Cup points accumulated throughout the season. From 2019 onward, the FedEx Cup was reduced to three events, and the Tour Championship is now held in late August rather than mid-September.

While originally followed by the PGA Tour Fall Series (for those competing for qualifying exemptions in the following season), a re-alignment of the PGA Tour's season schedule in 2013 made the Tour Championship the final event of the season.

From 1987 to 1996, several courses hosted the event. Beginning in 1997, the event alternated between Champions Golf Club in Houston and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta; since 2004, East Lake has been the event's permanent home.

Format

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1987–2006

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From its debut in 1987 through 2006, the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour after the penultimate event qualified for the event. It took place in early November, the week after the comparable event in Europe, the Volvo Masters, which allowed players who are members of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour to play in both end of season events. After the Tour Championship, the money list for the season was finalized. There were a number of additional events between the Tour Championship and Christmas which were recognized by the PGA Tour, but prize money won in them was unofficial. Also, because this tournament's field was not as large as other golf tournaments, there was no 36-hole cut; all players who started the event were credited with making the cut and received some prize money.

2007–2018

[edit]
Brandt Snedeker winning in 2012
Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson on the 17th green in 2015
Rory McIlroy during practice rounds in 2015

In 2007, the Tour Championship moved from November to mid-September, where it ended the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs. As in past years, 30 players qualified for the event, but the basis for qualification was no longer prize money. Instead, FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular PGA Tour season and then during the three preceding playoff events determined the participants. Beginning in 2009, the assignment and awarding of points assured that if any of the top five FedEx Cup point leaders entering The Tour Championship won the event, that player would also win the FedEx Cup. Therefore, it still remained possible for one player to win the Tour Championship and another player to win the FedEx Cup. For example, Tiger Woods won the 2018 Tour Championship but finished second in the FedEx Cup, while Justin Rose won the FedEx Cup despite finishing the tournament tied for fourth, because Woods entered the Tour Championship 20th in overall points while Rose was 2nd.[2][3]

2007 was also the inaugural year for the Tour's Fall Series, which determined the rest of the top 125 players eligible for the following year's FedEx Cup, which made the event no longer the final tournament of the season. However, starting in 2013, the Tour Championship was the final tournament of the PGA Tour season; seasons begin in October of the previous calendar year.[4] Since 2007, those who qualified for the Tour Championship earned a Masters Tournament invitation. For 2020, players who qualified for the Tour Championship were invited to the Sentry Tournament of Champions, a byproduct of tournament cancellations from the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to 2016, hole 18 at East Lake Golf Club was a par 3, which had been criticized as lacking drama for fans. Starting in 2016, the PGA Tour reversed the nines at East Lake for the Tour Championship so that play now finishes on a more exciting par 5 hole.[5]

2019–2024

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Beginning in 2019, the tournament adopted a new format in order to ensure that the winner would also be the FedEx Cup champion. Using a method similar to the Gundersen method in Nordic combined, the player with the most FedEx Cup points leading into the tournament starts at 10 under par. The player with the second most points starts at −8, the third at −7, the fourth at -6, and the fifth at −5. Players ranked 6 through 10 begin at −4; 11 through 15 at −3; and so on, down to numbers 26 to 30 who will start at even par.[6][7]

For purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking only aggregate scores are taken into account, disregarding any starting scores in relation to par.[8]

2025–present

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In May 2025 it was announced that the Tour Championship would abandon the starting strokes format.[9] All players in the tournament field begin at even-par and the winner of the FedEx Cup is the lowest scoring player after four rounds. The event will also carry a purse of $40 million, with $10 million going to the winner, and will count as official money for the first time since 2018.[10]

Calamity Jane trophy

[edit]

The Calamity Jane trophy is a sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter, that has been presented to the winner of the Tour Championship since 2005. In 2017, it was made the official trophy for the tournament.[11][12] Each winner before 2005 has been awarded one retroactively.[13]

Winner's exemption reward

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From 1998 to 2018, the Tour Championship winner, if not already exempt by other means, received a 3-year PGA Tour exemption. Since 2019, the Tour Championship winner has been directly awarded the FedEx Cup and a 5-year PGA Tour exemption.[14]

Tournament hosts

[edit]
Years Venue Location
1998, 2000,
2002, 2004–present		 East Lake Golf Club Atlanta, Georgia
1990, 1997,
1999, 2001, 2003		 Champions Golf Club,
Cypress Creek Course		 Houston, Texas
1995–96 Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma
1993–94 The Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, California
1991–92 Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 Course Pinehurst, North Carolina
1989 Harbour Town Golf Links Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
1988 Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California
1987 Oak Hills Country Club San Antonio, Texas

Winners

[edit]
Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runners-up Purse
($)		 Winner's
share ($)
Tour Championship
2025 England Tommy Fleetwood 262 −18 3 strokes United States Patrick Cantlay
United States Russell Henley		 40,000,000 10,000,000
Year Winner To par[a] Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Lowest gross[b]
Tour Championship
2024 United States Scottie Scheffler −30 (−10) 4 strokes United States Collin Morikawa United States Collin Morikawa 262
2023 Norway Viktor Hovland −27 (−8) 5 strokes United States Xander Schauffele Norway Viktor Hovland
United States Xander Schauffele		 261
2022 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy (3) −21 (−4) 1 stroke South Korea Im Sung-jae
United States Scottie Scheffler		 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 263
2021 United States Patrick Cantlay −21 (−10) 1 stroke Spain Jon Rahm United States Kevin Na
Spain Jon Rahm		 266
2020 United States Dustin Johnson −21 (−10) 3 strokes United States Xander Schauffele
United States Justin Thomas		 United States Xander Schauffele 265
2019 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy (2) −18 (−5) 4 strokes United States Xander Schauffele Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 267
Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Purse
($)[c]		 Winner's
share ($)
Tour Championship
2018 United States Tiger Woods (3) 269 −11 2 strokes United States Billy Horschel 9,000,000 1,620,000
2017 United States Xander Schauffele 268 −12 1 stroke United States Justin Thomas 8,750,000 1,575,000
2016 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 268 −12 Playoff United States Kevin Chappell
United States Ryan Moore		 8,500,000 1,530,000
2015 United States Jordan Spieth 271 −9 4 strokes New Zealand Danny Lee
England Justin Rose
Sweden Henrik Stenson		 8,250,000 1,485,000
2014 United States Billy Horschel 269 −11 3 strokes United States Jim Furyk
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy		 8,000,000 1,440,000
2013 Sweden Henrik Stenson 267 −13 3 strokes United States Jordan Spieth
United States Steve Stricker		 8,000,000 1,440,000
2012 United States Brandt Snedeker 270 −10 3 strokes England Justin Rose 8,000,000 1,440,000
2011 United States Bill Haas 272 −8 Playoff United States Hunter Mahan 8,000,000 1,440,000
The Tour Championship
2010 United States Jim Furyk 272 −8 1 stroke England Luke Donald 7,500,000 1,350,000
2009 United States Phil Mickelson (2) 271 −9 3 strokes United States Tiger Woods 7,500,000 1,350,000
2008 Colombia Camilo Villegas 273 −7 Playoff Spain Sergio García 7,000,000 1,260,000
2007 United States Tiger Woods (2) 257 −23 8 strokes United States Mark Calcavecchia
United States Zach Johnson		 7,000,000 1,260,000
2006 Australia Adam Scott 269 −11 3 strokes United States Jim Furyk 6,500,000 1,170,000
2005 United States Bart Bryant 263 −17 6 strokes United States Tiger Woods 6,500,000 1,170,000
2004 South Africa Retief Goosen 269 −11 4 strokes United States Tiger Woods 6,000,000 1,080,000
2003 United States Chad Campbell 268 −16 3 strokes United States Charles Howell III 6,000,000 1,080,000
2002 Fiji Vijay Singh 268 −12 2 strokes United States Charles Howell III 5,000,000 900,000
2001 Canada Mike Weir 270 −14 Playoff Spain Sergio García
South Africa Ernie Els
United States David Toms		 5,000,000 900,000
2000 United States Phil Mickelson 267 −13 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods 5,000,000 900,000
1999 United States Tiger Woods 269 −15 4 strokes United States Davis Love III 5,000,000 900,000
1998 United States Hal Sutton 274 −6 Playoff Fiji Vijay Singh 4,000,000 720,000
1997 United States David Duval 273 −11 1 stroke United States Jim Furyk 4,000,000 720,000
1996 United States Tom Lehman 268 −12 6 strokes United States Brad Faxon 3,000,000 540,000
1995 United States Billy Mayfair 280 E 3 strokes Australia Steve Elkington
United States Corey Pavin		 3,000,000 540,000
1994 United States Mark McCumber 274 −10 Playoff United States Fuzzy Zoeller 3,000,000 540,000
1993 United States Jim Gallagher Jr. 277 −7 1 stroke South Africa David Frost
United States John Huston
Australia Greg Norman
United States Scott Simpson		 3,000,000 540,000
1992 United States Paul Azinger 276 −8 3 strokes United States Lee Janzen
United States Corey Pavin		 2,000,000 360,000
1991 United States Craig Stadler 279 −5 Playoff United States Russ Cochran 2,000,000 360,000
Nabisco Championship
1990 United States Jodie Mudd 273 −11 Playoff United States Billy Mayfair 2,500,000 450,000
1989 United States Tom Kite 276 −8 Playoff United States Payne Stewart 2,500,000 450,000
1988 United States Curtis Strange 279 −9 Playoff United States Tom Kite 2,000,000 360,000
1987 United States Tom Watson 268 −12 2 strokes United States Chip Beck 2,000,000 360,000

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tour Championship

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from Grokipedia
The Tour Championship is the season-ending tournament of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, contested annually by the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings following a series of playoff events, where the winner is crowned the season-long FedExCup champion and receives a $10 million share of the $40 million purse. Held at in , Georgia, since 2004, the event is played over 72 holes of with no cut, and for the 2025 edition, all participants started at even par following the elimination of the prior "starting strokes" format that had awarded advantages based on regular-season FedExCup position. Inaugurated in 1987 as the Championship to crown the top money earner from the regular season's leading players, it evolved in 2007 with the introduction of the FedExCup Playoffs, shifting focus to a points-based postseason format that determines the overall champion. The tournament's significance extends beyond competition, as it serves as a major fundraiser for the East Lake Foundation, having raised over $42 million for community revitalization initiatives in since its first hosting at the venue in 1998. Notable winners include , who claimed three titles (1999, 2007, 2009), and with two victories (2016, 2019), while the 2025 champion, , secured his first win in the event, finishing at 18-under par to edge out and . The East Lake course, originally designed by Tom Bendelow in 1908 and redesigned by Donald Ross in 1913, presents a challenging par-70 layout measuring approximately 7,346 yards, known for its strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and historical ties to legend Bobby Jones. As the pinnacle of the schedule, the Tour Championship not only distributes record but also highlights the culmination of a grueling 36-plus event season, influencing player legacies and the tour's global appeal.

History

Establishment and early years (1987–2006)

The Tour Championship was established in 1987 by the under the name Championships of Golf, designed as a season-ending bonus event to crown the tour's top performer based on annual earnings and to provide a prestigious finale for elite players. Introduced by then-commissioner , it qualified the top 30 money leaders from the regular season, emphasizing cumulative achievement over the year without any playoff format. The inaugural purse totaled $2 million, the largest on the tour at the time, with the winner receiving $360,000—more than double the victor's share from any major championship that year. The first edition took place from October 29 to November 1 at Oak Hills Country Club in , , where Tom Watson claimed victory with a score of 272 (−8), edging out runners-up Chip Beck, Mark McCumber, and Scott Simpson by two strokes to secure his first win in nearly three years. This event marked a significant step in elevating the tour's year-end competition, drawing top talent and offering substantial charitable contributions beyond the player purse, with an additional $2 million directed to tour-affiliated causes. Over the subsequent years, the tournament rotated among various venues, maintaining its focus on rewarding season-long consistency among the tour's leading earners while fostering high-stakes drama in a compact field of 30 players. As the event matured through the and early , its purse expanded dramatically to reflect the tour's growing commercial appeal, reaching $6 million by with the winner's share at $1.08 million. The field size remained fixed at 30 throughout this era, ensuring an intimate showcase of the tour's best without dilution, though occasionally accounted for ties in the money standings. Notable milestones included ' breakthrough victory in 1999 at in , , where he finished at 15-under par (269) despite a injury sustained during the tournament, underscoring his dominance and helping solidify the event's status as a critical capstone to the season. The Tour Championship during these years played a pivotal role in highlighting sustained excellence, as qualification solely via the money list rewarded players for consistent performance across the full schedule rather than isolated bursts of form. Without or starting strokes, it remained a pure stroke-play competition, often producing tense finales that celebrated the tour's hierarchy, such as multiple wins by in 2003 and 2004, which further elevated its prestige ahead of later structural evolutions.

FedEx Cup integration and evolution (2007–present)

The introduction of the in 2007 transformed the season into a points-based competition, with the Tour Championship elevated as the climactic finale of a new playoff system designed to heighten drama and reward consistent performance throughout the year. The playoffs comprised four sequential events—The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship, and Tour Championship—starting with a 144-player field that progressively narrowed to 120, 70, and finally 30 players for the Tour Championship, where the overall standings were finalized to crown the season's champion. This integration positioned the Tour Championship not merely as an invitational tournament but as the decisive event determining the $10 million bonus and championship trophy, marking the first playoff structure in men's professional golf history. In response to ongoing debates about balancing regular-season merit with playoff excitement, the announced a major overhaul on September 18, 2018, effective for the season, introducing a "Starting Strokes" format at the Tour Championship to explicitly reward top performers from the regular season. Under this system, the 30 qualifiers began the 72-hole stroke-play event with strokes awarded based on their pre-playoff standings—up to 10 strokes for the No. 1 player—ensuring the season-long leader entered with a significant advantage while still requiring strong play to secure victory. The change aimed to address criticisms that prior formats undervalued regular-season efforts, though it immediately sparked division among players and fans regarding its equity and resemblance to a handicap system. By May 27, 2025, the unveiled further modifications, eliminating the Starting Strokes format for the upcoming Tour Championship and reverting to a traditional 72-hole stroke-play event where all 30 players start at even par on a "clean slate," regardless of prior positioning. Described by Tour officials as a "bridge year" to allow for additional refinements, this adjustment sought to simplify the finale, enhance competitive purity, and mitigate perceptions of unfairness, with the winner claiming the , a $10 million bonus, and related exemptions. The field size remained at 30, maintaining its status as 's most exclusive event, while signaling potential future evolutions to better align the playoffs with player and fan preferences. In the 2025 edition, the first without starting strokes, won the event and at 18-under par. The FedEx Cup's integration has influenced player participation and sparked ongoing discourse about format equity, particularly in its early years when top talents like skipped the opening playoff event in 2007 yet still claimed the title, highlighting perceived low stakes for early rounds. Similar opt-outs, such as bypassing the 2007 BMW Championship, underscored initial resistance to the compressed playoff schedule amid fatigue concerns. voiced pointed criticism of the 2019 Starting Strokes introduction, labeling it a "handicapped" system that undermined pure competition by granting undue advantages to standings leaders. These debates have driven iterative changes, emphasizing the Tour Championship's evolving role in crowning a champion who embodies both seasonal consistency and playoff prowess.

Format

1987–2006

From its inception in 1987 through 2006, the Tour Championship operated as a straightforward 72-hole stroke-play event on the , contested over four rounds with no cut after any round. The field consisted exclusively of the top 30 players on the season's official money list following the penultimate tournament, ensuring an elite competition among the tour's leading earners without any starting strokes or handicaps; all participants began the event at even par. This format emphasized pure competition on the course, serving as the season's capstone to crown a champion based solely on performance during those four days. The tournament's purse grew significantly over this period, reflecting the 's expanding financial landscape. In its debut year of 1987, the total purse stood at $2 million—the largest on tour at the time—with the winner receiving $360,000, more than double the top prize offered by any major championship that season. By , the purse had escalated to $6 million, with the victor's share reaching $1.08 million, underscoring the event's status as a premier payout opportunity. Prize money from the Tour Championship counted as official PGA Tour earnings, contributing directly to players' season-long totals and influencing money list standings, though the event itself conferred no additional exemptions or status perks beyond the cash distribution. Ties for the lead after 72 holes were resolved via sudden-death playoff, beginning on the designated playoff hole and continuing until a winner emerged under standard rules. Scoring highlights during this era included exceptional rounds that showcased the talent of the field; for instance, in 2003 at , winner carded a 9-under-par 61 in the third round, setting a course record and helping secure his victory at 16-under overall. Such performances exemplified the high-stakes, cutthroat nature of the no-cut format, where every shot across all four rounds determined the outcome and the substantial financial rewards.

2007–2018

Following the launch of the in 2007, the Tour Championship served as the culminating event in a four-tournament playoff series designed to crown the season-long points leader. The field consisted of the top 30 players in the standings, determined by points earned during the regular season and the preceding three playoff events: The Barclays (later renamed The Northern Trust), the Deutsche Bank Championship (later ), and the BMW Championship. These earlier events progressively reduced the field through cuts—the first to the top 70 and ties after 36 holes, the second to the top 100 and ties—before the BMW Championship fed the final 30 qualifiers without a cut. The tournament itself was conducted as a 72-hole stroke-play at even par for all participants, with no cut after 36 holes, ensuring every qualifier completed the full event. This format emphasized individual performance over the four rounds while integrating carryover points from prior stages, meaning the overall champion was determined by cumulative season-long standings rather than solely the East Lake result. The Tour Championship winner received the traditional title and a share of the event purse, but the victor—based on final points—claimed a $10 million bonus from a $35 million pool distributed to the top 150 players, a structure that remained consistent through 2018. Over this period, the event saw adjustments to enhance competitiveness and viewer engagement, including annual rotations of venues for the preceding playoff tournaments to vary course challenges and maintain freshness. The purse also expanded significantly, reaching $9 million by with the winner earning $1.62 million, reflecting the growing financial stakes of the . This era distinguished the Tour Championship as a high-pressure finale where tournament success could boost but not guarantee the season championship, as evidenced by instances like securing the without winning at East Lake.

2019–2024

In 2019, the introduced a revised format for the Tour Championship to better integrate regular-season performance with on-course results during the event. The field consisted of the top 30 players in the standings following the Championship, competing in a 72-hole stroke-play with no cut at . To account for cumulative points earned throughout the season, participants received starting strokes relative to par based on their entering position: the No. 1 player began at 10 under par, No. 2 at 8 under, No. 3 at 7 under, No. 4 at 6 under, No. 5 at 5 under, Nos. 6–10 at 4 under, Nos. 11–15 at 3 under, Nos. 16–20 at 2 under, Nos. 21–25 at 1 under, and Nos. 26–30 at even par. This staggered-start system aimed to balance recognition of season-long achievement with the opportunity for comebacks, as all players' scores were adjusted from their starting positions to determine the final leaderboard. The champion was decided by the lowest aggregate score relative to par after four rounds, earning a substantial bonus—$15 million in , which escalated to $25 million by 2024—while the outright tournament winner received a separate $3 million from the event's official purse. The format drew mixed reactions from players and observers. Critics, including some professionals, argued that the "manufactured" advantages created artificial leads, potentially diminishing the event's drama and integrity as a pure competition by favoring pre-event standings over in-tournament play. For instance, in 2020, started at 4-under par as the No. 8 seed but won the tournament, yet claimed the title with his adjusted score. Defenders, including officials, praised it for rewarding consistent performance across the season while still allowing underdogs a realistic path to victory, as evidenced by multiple come-from-behind wins during this era.

2025–present

In May 2025, the PGA Tour announced significant changes to the Tour Championship format, effective immediately for that year's event, reverting to a traditional 72-hole stroke-play competition with no cut, where all 30 qualified players begin at even par without any starting strokes. Qualification remained unchanged, selecting the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings following the conclusion of the prior playoff events, the FedEx St. Jude Championship and BMW Championship. The winner receives the FedEx Cup title along with a $10 million bonus from the overall $100 million FedEx Cup prize pool, in addition to $10 million from the tournament's $40 million purse. These player-led modifications, informed by the 's Fan Forward initiative research, aimed to enhance fairness by eliminating the prior handicap-like starting strokes system, thereby creating a more equitable and exciting competition that is easier for fans to follow with a tougher course setup. The changes addressed longstanding criticisms of the strokes format diluting the event's competitive integrity, while preserving the Cup's emphasis as the season-long points culmination. Commissioner indicated that the 2025 edition would serve as a "bridge year" to evaluate the new structure, with potential further adjustments based on player and fan feedback after the event. The 2025 Tour Championship, held August 21–24 at in , exemplified the format's impact by producing a tightly contested field, where pre-event leader entered without the advantage of starting strokes he would have received under the previous system. Scheffler finished tied for fourth at 14-under par, a performance that would have secured victory and an additional $7.4 million in prizes had starting strokes been applied, highlighting how the even-par start leveled the playing field and amplified the tournament's drama. This shift underscored the PGA Tour's commitment to evolving the event toward pure merit-based outcomes, fostering greater unpredictability and viewer engagement.

Awards and exemptions

Calamity Jane Trophy

The Calamity Jane Trophy is a replica of the iconic used by legendary golfer Bobby Jones throughout much of his career. The original , named "" after the famed American frontierswoman and sharpshooter Martha Jane Canary, was presented to Jones in 1920 by Stewart Maiden, brother of Jones' instructor James Maiden. Crafted in before 1900, it featured a distinctive shaft and blade design that Jones credited with contributing to his 13 major championship victories, including the 1930 Grand Slam. The club famously survived a 1925 fire that destroyed the clubhouse, where much of Jones' equipment was stored, underscoring its enduring legacy at the venue now hosting the Tour Championship. Since the tournament's inception in 1987, the Tour Championship has evolved its awards, but the replica was introduced as a special honor in 2005 to celebrate Jones' ties to East Lake and the PGA Tour's roots. In 2017, it was elevated to official tournament trophy status, complementing the perpetual trophy. The replica captures the original's classic lines—a shallow face with subtle heel-toe weighting and a traditional —crafted in gleaming for both aesthetic and symbolic durability. While specific dimensions are not publicly detailed, the design emphasizes historical fidelity over modern functionality, evoking the era of hickory-shafted clubs. Presented annually to the winner during the post-round ceremony at East Lake, the trophy marks the climax of the Playoffs and recognizes the season's elite performer. Unlike perpetual awards, each champion receives a personal replica to retain indefinitely, often displayed as a cherished keepsake—such as in a home office, as noted by past winner . It carries no monetary value but embodies profound prestige, linking contemporary champions to 's golden age and Jones' unparalleled achievements.

Winner's rewards and exemptions

The winner of the Tour Championship receives the largest share of the event's purse, which totals $40 million as of 2025, awarding $10 million to the . This payout counts as official , while the FedExCup bonus is a separate $100 million pool distributed across the , with the final portion awarded after the Tour Championship based on finishing position ($10 million to the winner, as in 2025). Prior to 2025, the tournament purse was separate from the FedExCup bonus, with the 2024 purse at $25 million and the winner's share at $7.2 million; the bonus for the FedExCup alone reached $25 million in 2023 and 2024, up from $15 million starting in and $10 million at the program's in 2007. Since the FedExCup's launch, the bonus has been awarded based on cumulative points standings across the rather than solely on Tour Championship performance, though format changes in introduced starting strokes to align tournament play with points leadership. The FedExCup champion, who since the elimination of starting strokes in 2025 is the tournament winner following 72-hole , earns a five-season exemption on the , guaranteeing entry into full-field events, Signature Events, and without needing to qualify through points. This exemption mirrors the benefit for major champions and Players winners, extending playing privileges through reshuffles based on annual performance. Before the FedExCup era (pre-2007), the Tour Championship winner received a five-year exemption; this was reduced to three years from 1998 to 2018 before reverting to five years in 2019 to elevate the event's prestige. In addition to Tour status, the winner secures invitations to major championships the following year if not otherwise qualified, including the , and benefits from elevated points allocation. Top finishers in the event, including the winner, also qualify for subsequent majors like the U.S. Open and based on performance thresholds. These rewards underscore the Tour Championship's role as the season's pinnacle, providing both immediate financial impact and long-term career security.

Venues

Current venue

in , Georgia, serves as the current and permanent venue for the Tour Championship, having hosted the event annually since 2004 with the exception of 2015 and 2016, when renovations prompted a temporary relocation to . The course is a par-70 layout measuring approximately 7,440 yards, featuring bentgrass greens and a mix of challenging par-4s, par-3s, and two par-5s that demand precision from elite players. Originally designed by Donald Ross in 1913 and restored by Rees Jones in 1994, East Lake underwent a comprehensive $30 million restoration in 2024 led by architect Andrew Green, which rediscovered Ross's original elements including contoured greens, strategic bunkering, and minimal yardage changes to preserve its historical integrity while enhancing playability for modern professionals. Owned and operated as a non-profit by the East Lake Foundation—an organization dedicated to neighborhood revitalization—East Lake was chosen as the finale site for its central location, accessibility, and deep ties to history as the boyhood home of Bobby Jones. The tournament has raised over $63 million for local nonprofits since first hosted at the venue in 1998. Among its signature features, the par-3 15th hole stands out as the oldest island green , playing 215 yards over water with a restored false front and surrounds that reward accurate iron play and amplify pressure in the tournament's closing stages. In recent years under the staggered-start format, winning scores have averaged around 15-under par, reflecting the course's balance of scoring opportunities on the par-5s and defenses on the longer par-4s. The 2025 Tour Championship drew strong fan engagement, with final-round TV viewership on averaging 4.491 million viewers—a 34% increase from 2024—and continuing to support local charities through the East Lake Foundation's initiatives in , , and youth development in the surrounding neighborhood.

Past venues

The Tour Championship rotated among various prestigious courses from its debut in 1987 through 2003, reflecting the PGA Tour's strategy to broaden its national footprint by hosting the season-ending event in different regions. This approach aimed to boost visibility, draw larger crowds, and secure regional sponsorships, with venue selection often tied to courses capable of accommodating high-profile crowds and offering challenging layouts that tested the top players. Attendance figures and purse sizes varied by location, but popular sites like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst consistently generated strong interest and economic impact for local communities. The following table lists the past venues chronologically, including multiple years for courses that hosted the event more than once during this period.
Year(s)VenueLocation
1987Oak Hills Country ClubSan Antonio, Texas
1988Pebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California
1989Harbour Town Golf LinksHilton Head Island, South Carolina
1990Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek Course)Houston, Texas
1991–1992Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course)Pinehurst, North Carolina
1993–1994The Olympic Club (Lake Course)San Francisco, California
1995–1996Southern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma
1997, 1999, 2001, 2003Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek Course)Houston, Texas
1998, 2000, 2002East Lake Golf ClubAtlanta, Georgia
Beginning in 1997, the event entered a period of alternation between and , providing stability while maintaining some variety before settling permanently at East Lake in 2004. Notable among these rotations were the repeated hostings at , a George Fazio-designed layout known for its strategic bunkering and tree-lined fairways, which hosted four times and drew consistent crowds from the market. Similarly, early appearances at East Lake highlighted its historical significance as Bobby Jones's home course, setting the stage for its long-term role. These selections emphasized courses with architectural merit and logistical capacity for the Tour's premier finale.

Results

Past winners

The Tour Championship has crowned a annually since its in 1987. The following table lists all winners, including their final score to par, margin of victory (or playoff result), venue, and standing where applicable (post-2007 winners also claimed the season-long title). For 2019–2024, scores to par are net scores including starting strokes; from 2025, all start at even par.
YearWinnerScore to parMargin/PlayoffVenueFedEx Cup Standing
1987Tom Watson−122 strokesOak Hills Country Club, San Antonio, TXN/A
1988−94 strokes, Pebble Beach, CAN/A
1989−8Playoff (over ), Hilton Head, SCN/A
1990Jodie Mudd−111 stroke, , TXN/A
1991−9Playoff (over )The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SCN/A
1992−84 strokes, Tulsa, OKN/A
1993Jim Gallagher Jr.−72 strokes, Columbus, OHN/A
1994Mark McCumber−10Playoff (over )Isleworth Golf & Country Club, Windermere, FLN/A
1995−173 strokes, Tulsa, OKN/A
1996−154 strokesSpanish Oaks Golf Club, Austin, TXN/A
1997−153 strokesOld White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, WVN/A
1998−14Playoff (over )The Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta, GAN/A
1999−211 stroke, , GAN/A
2000−153 strokesThe Club at Emerald Hills, Hollywood, FLN/A
2001−183 strokes, , GAN/A
2002−207 strokes, , GAN/A
2003−163 strokes, , GAN/A
2004−103 strokes, , TXN/A
2005Bart Bryant−174 strokes, , GAN/A
2006−111 stroke, , GAN/A
2007 (2)−238 strokes, , GA1st
2008−7Playoff (over and Sergio Garcia), , GA1st
2009 (3)−193 strokes, , GA1st
2010−81 stroke, , GA1st
2011−12Playoff (over ), , GA1st
2012−103 strokes, , GA1st
2013−172 strokes, , GA1st
2014−113 strokes, , GA1st
2015−94 strokes, , GA1st
2016 (2)−12Playoff (over ), , GA1st
2017−124 strokes, , GA1st
2018 (4)−112 strokes, , GA1st
2019 (3)−214 strokes, , GA1st
2020−205 strokes, , GA1st
2021−211 stroke, , GA1st
2022 (4)−211 stroke, , GA1st
2023−276 strokes, , GA1st
2024−304 strokes, , GA1st
2025Tommy Fleetwood−183 strokes, , GA1st

Records and statistics

Tiger Woods holds the record for the most Tour Championship victories with four (1999, 2007, 2009, 2018). has three (2016, 2019, 2022). Under the starting-strokes format (2019–2024), the lowest net 72-hole score was −30, set by at in 2024. This surpassed the previous net low of −27 by in 2023. Scheffler's net combined a −10 starting advantage (as No. 1 seed) with a gross score of −20. McIlroy's 2019 net −21 was a prior benchmark.
PlayerWinsYears
41999, 2007, 2009, 2018
32016, 2019, 2022
The youngest winner is , who triumphed at age 23 years and 190 days in 1999, defeating by 1 stroke. This victory marked Woods' second win and foreshadowed his dominance in the event. Since the tournament's inception in 1987, ten non-American players have won, representing a growing international presence: Mike Weir (Canada, 2001), Vijay Singh (Fiji, 2002), Retief Goosen (South Africa, 2004), Adam Scott (Australia, 2006), Henrik Stenson (Sweden, 2013), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, 2016, 2019, 2022), Viktor Hovland (Norway, 2023), Tommy Fleetwood (England, 2025). The tournament has seen 8 unique international winners. In the FedEx Cup era (2007–present), leads in career bonuses earned, totaling over $62 million across three titles and consistent top finishes. His 2019 and 2022 victories each netted $15 million at the time, contributing to his record. ranks second with approximately $43.7 million, bolstered by his 2024 win worth $25 million under the updated bonus structure. The starting-strokes format (2019–2024) produced notable comebacks, with the largest being Rory McIlroy's six-stroke rally in 2022. Trailing by that margin entering the final round, McIlroy shot a 4-under 66 to finish at −21 overall, securing the . Other significant comebacks include Xander Schauffele's four-stroke turn in 2017 (pre-starting strokes) and Justin Rose's push in 2018, though the format amplified drama by adjusting for season-long performance. The 2025 shift to even-par starts eliminated such handicaps, emphasizing pure .

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