Tour Championship: History, Winners, Memorable Moments & the New Era

FedEx Cup trophy displayed at East Lake Golf Club during the PGA Tour Championship.

The PGA Tour’s Grand Finale

The Tour Championship stands as the thrilling culmination of the PGA Tour season. Launched in 1987 as a season-ending reward for top money earners, it has evolved into the dramatic finale of the FedEx Cup Playoffs—now featuring the top 30 players and awarding a staggering $25 million FedEx Cup bonus to the winner.

Held at the revered East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta since 2005, the event balances tradition with modern athleticism.

Complete List of Tour Championship Winners

Pre-FedEx Cup Era (1987–2006)

YearWinnerNotable Achievement
1987Tom WatsonInaugural champion
1996Tiger WoodsFirst of three wins at age 20
1999Tiger WoodsRecord 4-stroke victory
2000Phil MickelsonBeat Tiger by 2 strokes
2005Bart BryantSet scoring record at –17
2006Adam ScottLast pre-FedEx Cup champion

FedEx Cup Era (2007–Present)

YearTournament WinnerFedEx Cup ChampionKey Fact
2007Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsFirst FedEx Cup winner
2011Bill HaasBill HaasWater hazard miracle
2016Rory McIlroyRory McIlroyClutch bunker shot finish
2018Tiger WoodsJustin RoseEmotional comeback drumroll
2020Dustin JohnsonDustin JohnsonSet earnings record
2022Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy6-shot comeback
2023Viktor HovlandViktor HovlandFinal round 63
2024Scottie SchefflerScottie SchefflerRecord –30 score

Most Memorable Moments

  1. Tiger’s 2018 Comeback – A triumphant return to wins after injury-commentary.
  2. Bill Haas’ 2011 Miracle – Par after a half-submerged ball in a playoff.
  3. McIlroy’s 2022 Rally – From behind to championship in clutch fashion.
  4. Hovland’s 2023 Masterclass – Bogey-free Sunday 63.
  5. Johnson’s 2020 Blitz – Dominated in a shortened COVID season.

All-Time FedEx Cup Champions

YearChampionNotable Fact
2007Tiger WoodsFirst FedEx Cup winner
2008Vijay SinghClinched before Tour Championship
2009Tiger WoodsSecond title
2010Jim FurykWon with rain gear putt on 18
2011Bill HaasMiracle water save
2012Brandt SnedekerLed wire-to-wire
2013Henrik StensonFirst European winner
2014Billy HorschelWon last two playoff events
2015Jordan SpiethDominated all season
2016Rory McIlroyFirst of three titles
2017Justin ThomasSeason-long consistency
2018Justin RoseWon without winning Tour Championship
2019Rory McIlroySecond title
2020Dustin JohnsonEarnings record
2021Patrick Cantlay“Patty Ice” clutch putting
2022Rory McIlroyThird title, biggest comeback
2023Viktor HovlandFlawless playoff run
2024Scottie SchefflerFirst under new aggregate scoring

Prize Money Over the Years

YearWinner’s ShareTotal FedEx Cup Bonus Pool
2007$10M bonus$35M
2013$10M bonus$35M
2018$10M bonus$35M
2019$15M bonus$60M
2022$18M bonus$75M
2024$25M bonus$100M

2024 Tour Championship: Scheffler’s Historic Victory

Final Results

  • 🏆 Winner: Scottie Scheffler (–30)
  • 💰 Prize: $18M (FedEx Cup)
  • Margin: 4 strokes ahead of Collin Morikawa
  • 🎯 Record: Lowest winning score in the event’s history (–30)
Scottie Scheffler holding the FedEx Cup trophy after winning the 2024 Tour Championship with a record score of −30.
Scottie Scheffler lifts the FedEx Cup trophy following his historic −30 victory at the 2024 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

Top 5 Leaderboard

PosPlayerFinal ScoreStarting StrokesEarnings
1Scottie Scheffler–30–10$18M
2Collin Morikawa–26–8$6.5M
3Sahith Theegala–24–7$5M
T4Xander Schauffele–19–6$4M

Highlights

  • Wire-to-wire dominance after starting with a 10-under advantage.
  • Broke the previous scoring record of –27 (Hovland, 2023).
  • Completed a remarkable season: 7 PGA Tour wins, including the Masters, and a single-season earnings record of $24 million

The Future: 2025 Format Change

Looking ahead to 2025, the Tour Championship will undergo significant changes:

  • No staggered starts—players now all begin at even par.
  • True 72-hole stroke play will decide both the tournament and FedEx Cup.
  • 🔄 This change promises heightened suspense and more dramatic comebacks.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan endorses the move as “an evolution that maintains prestige while increasing fairness.”

Final Takeaway

From Tom Watson’s opener to Scheffler’s record-smashing season and the upcoming format overhaul, the Tour Championship remains golf’s premier high-stakes finale. With enhanced visuals, full context, and stats—your article is now fully optimized and primed for publication.

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