The Tour Championship, a prominent golf tournament on the PGA Tour, typically concludes the season. Before 2007, only the top 30 earners from the preceding PGA Tour season were eligible to participate.
1987: Top 30 Money Winners Qualification
From its inception in 1987, the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour qualified for the Tour Championship.
1987: Rotating Venues
From 1987 to 1996, the Tour Championship was held at various golf courses.
1996: Venue Shift
The Tour Championship was hosted at different courses until 1996.
1998: Three-Year Exemption
From 1998 to 2018, the Tour Championship winner received a 3-year PGA Tour exemption if not already exempt.
2005: Calamity Jane Replica Awarded
A sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's "Calamity Jane" putter was presented to Tour Championship winners from 2005.
2006: End of Money List Qualification
The qualification criteria based on money list for Tour Championship ended in 2006.
2007: Shift to September and FedEx Cup Points
The Tour Championship moved to mid-September in 2007, with qualification based on FedEx Cup points.
2007: FedEx Cup Playoffs Incorporation
In 2007, the Tour Championship became the final event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs.
2007: FedEx Cup Playoffs Incorporation
In 2007, the Tour Championship became the final event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs.
2009: Points System for FedEx Cup
Since 2009, a points system ensured that winning the Tour Championship often led to winning the FedEx Cup.
2013: Season Finale
A schedule realignment in 2013 established the Tour Championship as the final event of the PGA Tour season.
2013: Tour Championship as Season Finale
From 2013 onward, the Tour Championship became the final event of the PGA Tour season.
2016: Nines Reversal at East Lake
In 2016, the PGA Tour reversed the nines at East Lake for a more dramatic finish on the par 5 18th hole.
2017: Calamity Jane as Official Trophy
The "Calamity Jane" replica became the official trophy for the Tour Championship in 2017, retroactively awarded to past winners.
2018: Woods Wins Tour Championship, Rose Wins FedEx Cup
In 2018, Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship but finished second in the FedEx Cup, while Justin Rose won the FedEx Cup despite a fourth-place finish in the tournament.
2018: End of Three-Year Exemption
The three-year PGA Tour exemption for Tour Championship winners ended in 2018.
2019: New Format for FedEx Cup Champion
A new format, similar to the Gundersen method, was implemented in 2019 to ensure the Tour Championship winner also clinched the FedEx Cup.
2019: FedEx Cup Playoffs Restructuring
In 2019, the FedEx Cup Playoffs were reduced to three events, and the Tour Championship shifted to late August.
2020: Sentry Tournament of Champions Invitation
In 2020, Tour Championship qualifiers received invitations to the Sentry Tournament of Champions due to pandemic-related cancellations.