Golf’s FedEx Cup has been a huge money-spinner for tournament winners in recent years, with the huge payouts appealing for top pros, but that is all set to change.
Played since 2007, the FedEx Cup is the championship trophy for the PGA Tour, and its inception brought about the first time golf adopted a playoff system.
In 2019, there was a huge hike in overall prize money, with the bonus pool going from around £19.5m to £54.6m, with the FedEx Cup winner earning approximately £11.7m.
That figure has continued to rise, and in the two previous years, the winner collected around £19.5m; however, that is now set to change drastically, with this year’s FedEx Cup champion set to earn £11.7m less in prize money.
FedEx Cup prize money slashed – but why?
This year’s Tour Championship will not apply the ‘starting strokes’ system used since 2019, which handed some players an advantage based on FedEx points collected ahead of the season finale.
The top qualifier at the tournament enjoyed a 10-stroke advantage to begin with, but this year’s affair in August will employ a level playing field, and the financial rewards will be lessened.
The regulatory changes will see a redirecting of the PGA Tour’s £78m in bonus money, with the broad aim of creating a greater spread of the riches among competing players.
| Stage | Previous System (pre-2025) | New System (2025 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Bonus Pool | £78m (entirely awarded at Tour Championship) | £78m (split across 3 events) |
| Wyndham Championship | – | £15.6m shared among top 10 players |
| BMW Championship | – | £17.9m shared among top 30 players |
| Tour Championship | £78m total: winner earned £19.5m; top 30 paid | £44.5m total: £31.2m for top 30, £13.3 |
How the bonus money will be split
Essentially, the entire £78m pot will not be paid out in entirety following the FedEx Cup, as has been the tradition, but instead will be paid in instalments at different stages based on certain criteria.
- The Wyndham Championship will see £15.6m split among the top 10 players.
- The BMW Championship will yield a £17.9m prize pool, shared among the top 30.
- Finally, the Tour Championship will offer a total of £44.5m, with £31.2m split among the top 30, and £13.3m in deferrals spread among players ranked 31–150.
The new move is aimed at rewarding players’ overall season-long performance, while it also introduces the risk of missing out on major prize money at the Tour Championship, which sees out the season.
Scottie Scheffler previously spoke out about removing starting strokes from the Tour Championship – which he won in 2024 ahead of Collin Morikawa thanks to his pre-tournament advantage.