History of Tour Championship in Timeline
The Tour Championship is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, traditionally marking one of the final events of the season. Before 2007, participation was limited to the top 30 money leaders from the preceding PGA Tour season, ensuring a highly competitive field.
1987: Multiple Courses Hosted
From 1987, several courses hosted the event.
1987: Qualification Based on Money Winners
From its debut in 1987, the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour after the penultimate event qualified for the Tour Championship.
1996: Multiple Courses Hosted
Until 1996, several courses hosted the event.
1998: 3-Year PGA Tour Exemption
From 1998, the Tour Championship winner, if not already exempt by other means, received a 3-year PGA Tour exemption.
2004: East Lake Becomes Permanent Home
Since 2004, East Lake Golf Club has been the permanent home for the Tour Championship event.
2005: Calamity Jane Presented to Winner
Since 2005, the Calamity Jane, a sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones's original "Calamity Jane" putter, has been presented to the winner of the Tour Championship.
2006: Qualification Based on Money Winners
Through 2006, the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour after the penultimate event qualified for the Tour Championship.
2007: Inaugural Year for Tour's Fall Series
2007 was also the inaugural year for the Tour's Fall Series, which determined the rest of the top 125 players eligible for the following year's FedEx Cup.
2007: FedEx Cup Playoffs Final Event
In 2007, the Tour Championship became the final event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs. Eligibility was determined by FedEx Cup points accumulated throughout the season.
2007: Tour Championship Moved to September
In 2007, the Tour Championship moved from November to mid-September, concluding the four-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs.
2009: Points System Assures FedEx Cup Winner
Beginning in 2009, the assignment and awarding of points assured that if any of the top five FedEx Cup point leaders entering The Tour Championship won the event, that player would also win the FedEx Cup.
2013: Tour Championship Becomes Season Finale
In 2013, a realignment of the PGA Tour's season schedule made the Tour Championship the final event of the season.
2016: Nines Reversed at East Lake
Starting in 2016, the PGA Tour reversed the nines at East Lake for the Tour Championship so that play now finishes on a more exciting par 5 hole.
2017: Calamity Jane Made Official Trophy
In 2017, the Calamity Jane was made the official trophy for the tournament. Each winner before 2005 has been awarded one retroactively.
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 finishing the tournament tied for fourth.
2018: 3-Year PGA Tour Exemption
Until 2018, the Tour Championship winner, if not already exempt by other means, received a 3-year PGA Tour exemption.
2019: New Format Adopted
Beginning in 2019, the tournament adopted a new format using a method similar to the Gundersen method in Nordic combined to ensure that the winner would also be the FedEx Cup champion. The player with the most FedEx Cup points leading into the tournament starts at 10 under par, with subsequent players starting at progressively lower scores.
2019: FedEx Cup Reduced to Three Events
From 2019 onward, the FedEx Cup Playoffs were reduced to three events, and the Tour Championship was held in late August instead of mid-September.
2020: Invitation to Sentry Tournament of Champions
For 2020, players who qualified for the Tour Championship were invited to the Sentry Tournament of Champions, due to tournament cancellations from the coronavirus pandemic.
