Morikawa Stunned: PGA Tour Axes Rule He “Actually Liked”
Collin Morikawa Speaks Out: Why the PGA Tour’s Playoff Change Has Players Worried
Quick Summary: Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa isn’t happy with a recent PGA Tour rule change. The Tour removed the "starting strokes" format for the season-ending Tour Championship, and Morikawa thinks this makes the playoffs less fair for players who perform well all season long.
Morikawa’s Rollercoaster 2026 Season
Before we dive into the playoff controversy, let’s catch up on Collin Morikawa’s year—it’s been a wild ride!
- February Highlight: Morikawa snapped a two-year winless streak with a stunning victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
- March Setback: Just one month later, he injured his back on the second hole of The Players Championship.
- Ongoing Struggle: He’s kept playing but admits the back issue is now more mental than physical—the fear of pain is worse than the pain itself.
- Current Form: He’s playing well at the BMW Championship (the second playoff event), but he’s got something on his mind besides his golf swing.
The Missing Rule Morikawa Actually Liked
After his third round at the BMW Championship in St. Louis, Morikawa spoke to reporters about the PGA Tour’s playoff format. Here’s what he had to say:
"Yeah, I didn’t mind, even when I started at even or 1-under, I didn’t mind the starting strokes. I thought it rewarded a good regular season. Aside from just monetary reasons. It gave some purpose to having that."
What Was the "Starting Strokes" Format?
Think of it like a head start in a race:
| Regular Season Rank | Starting Score at Tour Championship |
|---|---|
| 1st Place (FedEx Cup Leader) | -10 (10 under par) |
| 2nd Place | -8 |
| 3rd Place | -7 |
| … | … |
| 26th–30th Place | Even Par (0) |
In simple terms: The better you played all year, the lower your starting score when the final tournament began.
Why the Old Format Mattered (According to Morikawa)
Morikawa makes three key points about why he liked the old system:
1. It Rewarded Consistency
- Playing well for 8+ months actually meant something
- You earned a real advantage for the finale
2. It Gave the Regular Season Purpose
- Without it, the long regular season feels like just a qualification round
- Players had a reason to fight for every spot, every week
3. It Didn’t Hurt Anyone
- Starting at -5 or -10 didn’t guarantee a win
- You still had to play great golf for four days
- But you had a "little bump"—a cushion for a bad round
"I don’t hate it now because, you know, you don’t want to start behind. But at the same time, like, it didn’t hurt if you were 5-under par starting the week and had a little bump ahead of other guys if you played well."
The Problem with the Current Playoff System
IMPORTANT POINT
Under the current format, everyone starts the Tour Championship at Even Par (0).
This means:
- The player who dominated all season starts tied with the player who barely squeaked into the top 30
- Someone ranked 30th in points can get hot for one week and win the entire FedEx Cup
- The regular season essentially becomes meaningless once the playoffs start
The "Scottie Scheffler" Example
The article uses Scottie Scheffler as an example:
- Imagine he’s the clear best player all year
- He builds a huge lead in points
- But at the Tour Championship, he starts even with everyone else
- A player ranked 30th has equal chance to win the $25M bonus with one good week
That doesn’t feel fair, does it?
Possible Solutions for a Fairer Format
The article suggests a few ideas the PGA Tour (led by Commissioner Brian Rolapp) could consider:
Option 1: Cumulative Scoring
- Add up scores from all three playoff events
- Lowest total score wins the FedEx Cup
- Like a season-long tournament instead of a one-week sprint
Option 2: Points Handicap System
- Give the #1 seed a 300-point lead entering the finale
- They’d only need to finish top 3 to win the season title
- Keeps excitement but protects the regular season leader
Option 3: Bring Back Starting Strokes (Modified)
- Adjust the starting stroke gaps
- Make them smaller but still meaningful
- Balance fairness with excitement
There are a lot of options for Brian Rolapp to consider. The key is finding a system that rewards season-long excellence AND creates Sunday drama.
What This Means for Golf Fans
Why Should You Care?
- Fairness: The best player should have an advantage
- Excitement: Regular season games matter more when they count toward a head start
- Storylines: "Can the leader hold off the chasers?" is a great narrative
- Player Motivation: Stars play more often when every tournament affects their playoff position
The Big Picture
Morikawa isn’t alone—many fans and players share this frustration. The PGA Tour wants drama, but not at the cost of making 8 months of golf feel pointless.
Summary
| Key Takeaway | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Morikawa liked the "starting strokes" format | It rewarded regular season performance |
| PGA Tour removed it for simplicity | But may have sacrificed fairness |
| Current format: Everyone starts at 0 | #1 seed and #30 seed have equal chance |
| This makes regular season feel meaningless | Players lose motivation; fans lose interest |
| Solutions exist (cumulative scoring, points handicap) | Tour needs to act before next season |
Bottom line: Collin Morikawa—one of the game’s brightest young stars—is telling the PGA Tour: "You fixed something that wasn’t broken." The challenge now is creating a playoff system that’s fair to players AND fun for fans.
FAQ
What exactly was the "starting strokes" format?
A: Before the final tournament (Tour Championship), players started with scores based on their regular season ranking. The #1 player started at -10 (10 under par), #2 at -8, down to #26-30 at Even Par. This gave consistent performers a head start.
Why did the PGA Tour get rid of it?
A: The Tour wanted a simpler format that’s easier for casual fans to understand. "Everyone starts at zero, lowest score wins" is straightforward—but it ignores months of hard work.
Does Morikawa think he would have won more with the old format?
A: Not necessarily. He says even when he started at Even Par or 1-under, he liked the system because it was fair in principle. His complaint is about the system, not personal gain.
What’s the FedEx Cup?
A: It’s the PGA Tour’s season-long points competition. The winner gets a $25 million bonus. The playoffs (three tournaments) determine the champion.
Could the Tour change the format mid-season?
A: Unlikely for this year, but player feedback like Morikawa’s puts pressure on Commissioner Brian Rolapp to review and revise the format for 2027 and beyond.
Follow the conversation: What do YOU think? Should the regular season leader get a head start, or is "everyone starts even" the fairest way?