Despite going into this week’s FedEx Cup finale in pole position, last week’s BMW winner Patrick Cantlay insists the current staggered scoring system of the season-ending Tour Championship simple isn’t good enough.
Heading the 30-man field by two shots ahead of the opening round at East Lake, Cantlay was asked his thoughts on the current format that sees some players tee-up this week 10 shots outside the lead.
“I think, frankly, it’s not a good format,” said the FedEx leader. “I think it’s obvious why they went to the format because the previous format was confusing. I think this format is less confusing. But I don’t think it’s a good format.
“I dislike the fact that we no longer have a Tour Champion. So I dislike the fact that no one knows, when they look at the leaderboard, who shot the lowest round this week.
“I think the fact that Xander [Schauffele] didn’t get a tournament win for beating the field by two or three shots is absolutely criminal, not just because he’s my friend, but I think that if that happened to anybody that would be criminal. And there has to be a better solution.
“I am not a mastermind on golf formats and there are lots of moving parts, so I’m not saying that I have the answer, there are lots of smart people and I guarantee you there must be an option for a better format out there than the current one we are playing in.
“With that said, I am going to do the best possible job I can at winning in this format because that’s all I can do. And in no way will that take, impact my ability to perform in this format. I think if you play the best golf this week, you’re going to be in a great spot by the end of the week.”
Cantlay was also asked if he knew where he stood on the Player Impact Programme with the top-10 most influential guys off the course set to share $40million for the work in moving the needle in golf this season.
Q – What’s your PIP rating by the way? Do you know? Do you guys have access to look at it?
Cantlay: “I don’t know.”
Q – Do they tell you?
Cantlay: “I don’t know. I got to be honest, I doubt I’m doing very well in that category. If I were to win any portion of the 10, I would be compelled to give all that money back to the fans that made it possible, because there’s no way a person like me should be able to get into the top 10 of the PIP if not for people out there deciding that they want me to be in the top 10 and to try to get some of that PIP money for themselves.
“If I win PIP money, I am going to give it back to the people that made it possible in some way, shape or form. I won’t take any of the PIP money. I think it’s kind of ridiculous and I think it’s, when I said there’s a symptom of a larger problem, I think that’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
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