Modifications made to FedExCup points system

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• FedExCup changes: What to know

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.- At its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the PGA TOUR Policy Board approved two modest changes to the point system used in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, as well as modifications to several other TOUR regulations.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said, "As we have previously discussed, we feel that the FedExCup in its inaugural year was very successful, and we did not feel the need to make significant changes to its essential structure. But because of significant feedback from players and fans asking for more volatility and an increase in the number of players in the hunt at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, we are making two adjustments that we feel will result in an even higher level of fan excitement and interest as we move into and through the Playoffs."

The two adjustments to the structure of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are as follows:
• A narrowing of the gap between players' point totals at the reset going into the Playoffs. For example, the gap between the first- and second-ranked players was 1,000 points at the reset last year. That gap has been reduced to 500 points this year, with similar reductions being made all the way down to 144th place.
• The number of FedExCup points available at Playoff events has been increased by 2,000 additional points per finish position. For example, a third-place finish was worth 3,400 points in 2007; it is now worth 5,400 points. In essence, players who play well will move up more dramatically than in 2007. (Note: For rounding purposes, the points increases at THE TOUR Championship will differ slightly from the first three Playoff events).

The effect of these two changes will be some improvement in a player's ability to make substantial gains in overall position based on excellent play in the Playoffs, while also increasing the number of players who will have a shot at winning the FedExCup.

If these two changes had been in place for the 2007 Playoffs, for example, the effect would have been to increase from six to 12 the number of players with a mathematical chance of winning the FedExCup, and instead of only four players with a realistic chance of winning, there would have been six.