Golf Tour Championship: A Season-Ending Extravaganza

what is the golf tour championship

The Tour Championship is a golf tournament that has been hosted at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, since 2004. It is the final event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, with only the top 30 players on the points list qualifying each year. The winner of the Tour Championship is the player with the lowest score after four rounds, and they are awarded the Calamity Jane trophy and a 5-year PGA Tour exemption.

Characteristics Values
Number of players 30
Location East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia
Year established 1987
Permanent location Since 2004
Trophy The Calamity Jane
Trophy description A sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter
Trophy awarded since 2005
Official tournament trophy Since 2017
PGA Tour exemption 5 years
Previous PGA Tour exemption 3 years (1998-2018)
Winner of the 2024 TOUR Championship and FedEx Cup Scottie Scheffler

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The Tour Championship is the final event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs

The Tour Championship is an annual golf tournament that is the culminating event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs. The tournament features the top 30 players on the points list, who qualify based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular PGA Tour season and the three preceding playoff events.

The Tour Championship was first played at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1998 and has been held there permanently since 2005. The event alternated between Champions Golf Club in Houston and East Lake Golf Club from 1997 to 2004. Since 2013, the Tour Championship has been the final tournament of the PGA Tour season.

The winner of the Tour Championship is awarded the FedEx Cup and a 5-year PGA Tour exemption. The trophy for the tournament is "Calamity Jane", a sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter. From 1998 to 2018, the winner, if not already exempt, received a 3-year PGA Tour exemption.

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. However, it is still 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.

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Qualification is based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular PGA Tour season

The Tour Championship is the culminating event of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. Qualification for the tournament is based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular PGA Tour season and the three preceding playoff events.

Since 2009, the assignment and awarding of points has been structured such 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. This means it is still 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. This was because Woods entered the Tour Championship 20th in overall points, while Rose was 2nd.

The top 30 players on the points list qualify for the Tour Championship each year. Since 2004, the tournament has been held at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. The tournament first took place in 1987 and, until 2006, the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour after the penultimate event qualified for the event.

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The winner of the FedEx Cup is the lowest-scoring player after four rounds

The FedEx Cup is a season-long points competition that culminates with the FedEx Cup Playoffs, a series of three events to determine the FedEx Cup champion. The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the Playoffs, with the first two playoff events offering 2,000 points to the winner. The Playoffs feature a progressive cut, with fields of 70 for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, 50 for the BMW Championship, and 30 for the Tour Championship.

The Tour Championship, held annually at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, is the final event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Only the top 30 players on the points list qualify for the Tour Championship, which is played as a 72-hole stroke-play event. All players start the tournament at even par, and the winner of the FedEx Cup is the player with the lowest aggregate score over 72 holes when combined with their FedEx Cup Starting Strokes.

The FedEx Cup points leader after the first two Playoffs events begins the Tour Championship at 10-under par. The number of starting strokes is based on players' standings heading into the week, with players 6-10 starting at 4 under, players 11-15 starting at 3 under, and so on. This system was implemented to ensure that the winner of the Tour Championship would also be the winner of the FedEx Cup and to inject excitement into the end of the golf season.

The FedEx Cup champion earns a substantial bonus, which was $25 million as of 2022, along with a five-year PGA Tour exemption. The total bonus pool for the FedEx Cup Playoffs is $100 million, with the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings being fully exempt for the following season. The FedEx Cup has been contested since 2007, with notable champions including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth.

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The tournament has been held at East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, since 2004

The Tour Championship is a golf tournament that is part of the PGA Tour. It has traditionally been one of the final events of the PGA Tour season. Since 2004, the tournament has been held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, making it the event's permanent home. Before that, from 1997 onwards, the tournament venue alternated between Champions Golf Club in Houston and East Lake Golf Club.

The East Lake Golf Club first hosted the tournament in 1998 and has been the venue 24 times since then. The tournament is the final event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, with only the top 30 players on the points list qualifying each year. The winner of the Tour Championship is awarded the Calamity Jane trophy, a sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter.

In 2016, the PGA Tour made a change to the course at East Lake Golf Club, reversing the nines so that play finishes on a more exciting par-5 hole. This change addressed previous criticisms of the course's lack of drama, particularly regarding the par-3 18th hole. The tournament also adopted a new format in 2019 to ensure that the winner would be the FedEx Cup champion. This format is similar to the Gundersen method used in Nordic combined events, with players starting at different scores relative to par based on their FedEx Cup points ranking.

The Tour Championship has a rich history, with notable moments such as Tiger Woods' 2018 victory, where he won the tournament but finished second in the FedEx Cup. The tournament has evolved over the years, with adjustments to the course and format, ensuring a captivating experience for both players and spectators.

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The winner of the tournament is awarded the Calamity Jane trophy

The Tour Championship is a golf tournament that is part of the PGA Tour. It is the culminating event of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup, with only the top 30 players on the points list qualifying each year. The tournament has been held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, since 2004 or 2005.

The Calamity Jane trophy is steeped in history and prestige. In 1925, a fire ravaged the East Lake Clubhouse, destroying all of Jones's clubs except for Calamity Jane. The putter's name is said to have come from the popular 1953 movie "Calamity Jane," starring Doris Day. The movie was based on the life of Wild West legend Calamity Jane, known for her daring and adventurous spirit. The trophy is a nod to Jones's dominance in the early 1900s, as he is regarded by many as the greatest amateur golfer of all time.

The winner of the Tour Championship also receives a hefty prize and the FedEx Cup, the PGA Tour's ultimate seasonal achievement. Since 2019, the champion has been directly awarded a 5-year PGA Tour exemption. The tournament employs a unique format where players begin with strokes based on their FedEx Cup position, with the leader starting at 10-under par.

Frequently asked questions

The Tour Championship is the culminating event of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. It is hosted at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

30 players qualify for the event based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular PGA Tour season and the three preceding playoff events.

The winner of the Tour Championship is awarded the FedEx Cup and a 5-year PGA Tour exemption. They also receive "Calamity Jane", a sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter.

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