Matt Fitzpatrick openly questions whether golf even needs playoffs. For the Brit, the PGA TOUR's FedExCup system is "really weird," and he argues that the season-long points leader should be crowned champion directly. His statement came ahead of the BMW Championship, the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs, and landed like a precise chip shot onto the green.
Fitzpatrick puts his finger directly on the issue: the current format often doesn't play out like a true playoff. He observes that top players often secure their spot in the finale long before the decisive rounds, which drains much of the excitement from the early playoff events. The true champion, he theorizes, is the one who has performed most consistently "from January until next week" – and in that scenario, no one would have surpassed Scottie Scheffler in 2026.
The Tour Relents – Or Does It?
Interestingly, the PGA TOUR has already responded to similar criticism for 2026 and adjusted the dynamics somewhat. FedExCup points in the opening events have been reduced, and the controversial Starting Strokes format for the TOUR Championship is a thing of the past. The finale at East Lake will now be a straightforward 72-hole stroke play event, with all players starting at even par. The FedExCup will thus go to whoever best masters the four rounds there.
Fitz's Stance and the Consequences
Fitzpatrick is not alone in his opinion. Other players and analysts also complain that while the system recognizes season-long performance, it doesn't create a cut-throat, knockout playoff feeling. For Fitzpatrick himself, things are going very well: he is excellently positioned before the BMW Championship and has his spot for the TOUR Championship, which reduces the field from 50 to 30 players, virtually secured. For the top players, the real excitement lies less in survival and more in the battle for the best starting position.
