The Tour Championship begins this week, with competitive rounds Thursday-Sunday, as the end-of-playoff event for the PGA Tour. The FedEx Cup winner will be crowned at East Lake Golf Club, just as he has been for all of the past 12 years after the playoff was implemented.
New date
The season-ending event moved to August this year, as the PGA Tour concludes its season before the start of college and professional football begins regular-season games. It has most previously been held at the end of September.
New scoring format
The Tour Championship has abandoned the complicated points system for a strokes-based scoring system. The points leader — Justin Thomas — will begin at 10-under par. The next four players will be at 8-under through 5-under respectively. The starting points regresses to Nos. 26-30 starting at even par.
» More: Field for FedEx Cup playoff finale
Just one winner
Several times in the history of the playoffs, there have been different Tour Championship and FedEx Cup winners, including last year when Tiger Woods won the tournament but Justin Rose won the playoff title and the $10 million bonus. Under the new format, the Tour Championship winner will claim the playoff title and large bonus.
New pay day
As if a $10 million bonus for the winner of the FedEx Cup was not enough, the PGA Tour has upped the prize to $15 million, an increase of 50 percent for the playoff champion.
Parking
Public parking will be available at the Georgia World Congress Center and the City of College Park with free shuttles to the golf course.
Tournament parking will no longer be available at Georgia State Stadium.
Public parking is available Wednesday through Sunday at the Georgia World Congress Center Marshalling Yard and Yellow Lot (362 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd) for $15 per day. Additional public parking will be available Friday through Sunday at the City of College Park (2459 Riverdale Road, College Park) for $10 per day. Free tournament shuttles will drop off at the Glenwood Gate. In addition, ADA shuttles will only be available at the Georgia World Congress Center with pick up and drop off up at the Alston Gate
Spectators must purchase parking for either location in advance of arrival through ParkMobile. Fans can use the ParkMobile app for iPhone and Android or reserve their spot online at ParkMobile.io. Once a parking reservation is made, it can be redeemed at the lots using a mobile pass in the ParkMobile app or with a printed permit.
Also, Uber riders will be dropped off at the Uber Gate, located near the 13th fairway.
Tickets
Tickets are in short supply with Weekly Grounds and ULTRA Club Friday and Saturday passes are no longer available. Daily Grounds tickets remain available. However, tournament officials indicated that only a limited quantity of Saturday grounds tickets remain.
The Weekly Grounds tickets offers access Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets are still available for the Ultra Club Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at $60. The club, located at the No. 13 green, offers indoor and outdoor seating and upgraded food options.
Other on-course venues that have reached capacity include:
» 1904 Club: Sold out in April
» Executive Club: Thursday/Friday sold out
» Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl College Corner: Saturday sold out, limited number remains for Sunday
» Shamrock Seats: Sold out
» 2nd and 3rd Floor of Triple Decker at No. 15: Sold out
Autographs
The best place to get an autograph is behind the No. 18 green in the Youth Autograph Area as players finish their rounds Thursday-Sunday. Most players who finish their round will walk the fence line on the way back to the clubhouse to sign autographs.
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