US PGA Tour officials are under pressure to revisit the season long FedEx Cup playoff system after revelations Jason Day could lose the lucrative trophy to a winless competitor.
Day, with five wins this season, including a major and two of the playoff events, and American Jordan Spieth, with four wins including two majors, could lose the FedEx Cup to Henrik Stenson, without the Swede winning a tournament.
Day earned enough points throughout the season to be ranked No.1 headed to the season ending Tour Championship, which begins on Thursday, where points are reset.
His lead was so vast he would have already clinched the Fed Ex Cup and $US10 million ($A14.2 million) bonus if not for the rule.
In an effort to make the season-finale more exciting the US tour has a system where all 30 competitors have a chance to win the money, with the top five controlling their own fate.
Rickie Fowler, Stenson and Bubba Watson join Day and Spieth in the top five, knowing a win at East Lake gives them both the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex Cup.
This scenario, while not without its own controversy, has been accepted as part of the deal.
But given Stenson has not won all year, revelations he could win the bonus by finishing as low as third at East Lake sets up a potential farce.
Most years a similar scenario has existed, but never with a player so high in the standings like Stenson, making it much more possible.
For example, if 17th ranked JB Holmes won the Tour Championship and Stenson was runner up, the Swede would take the bonus so long as Day finished in a three-way tie for 10th or worse, Spieth finished in a three-way tie for fourth or worse, Fowler a three-way tie for third or worse and Watson tied second or worse.
"That scenario would be unfortunate but we know the rules before we tee off," Day told AAP.
"I would have loved it to be the old format where I could just already be guaranteed the cup but it is what it is. The good thing is I control my destiny. I know if I play well enough, I can win it all."
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said they always look and re-evaluate things but didn't have any major concerns with how things sit.
Instead he was excited about the possibilities anyone can win.
"The playoffs have been hugely successful," Finchem said. I think the points on the FedExCup are in good shape right now.
"And the system is doing exactly what it's supposed to do when you look at the top five, six coming into Atlanta, that's the right top-five, or six.
"That's not to say one of them's going to win, and I talked to a number of guys last night and the last couple days who are not in the top-five, that are convinced that somebody else from the top-five is going to win."
Stenson claimed he wouldn't feel any guilt if it were to play out in his favour.
"That's just the way it is. You can be world No.1 without winning a tournament in a year, and you can win the FedExCup or Race to Dubai or anything else without winning a tournament," he said.
"I would love to win a tournament at the same time and I come close a few times.
"But if I finish second or third and win the overall, you won't see me leaving here crying.
"I know that much. Not out of sadness anyway."
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