PGA TOUR Champions arrives at TPC Sugarloaf with a new Modified Stableford format as Stewart Cink chases a third straight win in Georgia.
The PGA TOUR Champions schedule takes an interesting turn this week as the Mitsubishi Electric Classic returns to TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, with a brand-new wrinkle.
For the first time, the event will use Modified Stableford scoring, a format that rewards aggressive play and could quickly shake up the leaderboard over 54 holes.
Instead of the usual stroke-play setup, players will earn points for each hole based on their score.
An albatross is worth eight points, an eagle brings five, and a birdie adds two. Pars won’t move the needle, while bogeys cost a point and double bogey or worse drops a player by three.
It’s a system designed to push players toward flags and make every round feel a little more urgent.
That should make things especially fun with Stewart Cink arriving in top form.
The tournament host also enters the week leading the Charles Schwab Cup standings, and he’s chasing a third straight victory on the senior circuit.
With confidence already high, Cink now gets a chance to keep that streak going in front of a home-state crowd on a course measuring 7,205 yards and playing to a par 72.
There’s also plenty of attention on Jerry Kelly, who returns as defending champion and is making his 200th start on PGA TOUR Champions.
Kelly dominated this event a year ago, posting the tournament’s best 18-hole score (62) and setting both the 36-hole mark at 129 and the 54-hole record at 196.
Those numbers underscore just how well he’s played at Sugarloaf, even if this year’s scoring format adds a fresh layer of unpredictability.
With a $2 million purse and $300,000 going to the winner, there’s more than enough on the line.
But the biggest draw may be seeing how veteran stars adjust when birdies become essential and cautious golf suddenly feels a lot less rewarding.
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