World's best have mixed views on FedEx Cup format

A new system was put in place for this year's contest, which saw players given a stroke-based advantage at the start of the Tour Championship based on their position in the standings.

As the points leader, Justin Thomas started the week on 10-under with a two-shot advantage, but finished in a share of third behind winner Rory McIlroy, who claimed the $15 million jackpot with a four-stroke victory despite starting the tournament five shots behind Thomas.

And even though he was the main beneficiary of the new system, Thomas remains unconvinced by the format.

"I personally like when everyone starts the same." he said.

"It was really weird and hard teeing off on Thursday ahead of everybody.

"I don't know how everybody else feels, but I had a pretty hard time playing the normal way that I play. It's hard to just imagine everybody starts at zero when you don't. So that was tough."

Fellow Ryder Cup star Tony Finau agreed with Thomas admitting that it was a little strange.

"I don't mind that it's very easy to keep track of, and I do think that's biggest reason for it," he said.

"I think just coming in, for me, playing as well as I have leading up to this tournament, I had only a few-shot lead on the guys that just barely got in here, and then I'm seven back against the guys that have already played the best all year.

"I think this was a good start. They're trying some different things. But as an elite tournament, it's hard to already be behind the eight-ball, seven shots back for me with 72 holes to go."

Ironically, McIlroy was one of main players to voice his concerns with the new format prior to the start of the Tour Championship, but was won over by it in the end - no doubt due in no small part to his victory.

"If you look at the way it all played out, you had the No 1 and No 2 in the regular season FedExCup standings playing in the final group this week, so I think it worked out well," he said.