The US PGA Tour have cancelled the Pro Am and limited practice for the Tour Championships in an effort to save greens baked by heat at the East Lake Golf Club.

The top 30 golfers in the FedExCup standings were scheduled to start arriving in Atlanta on Monday for the season-ending event that will see the overall points champion walk away with a $10 million bonus in deferred compensation.

Severe drought in the Atlanta area, however, will restrict players to a course inspection and hitting drives and approach shots on the par four and five holes.

"As a result of severe heat and drought in the Atlanta area this summer, the putting green conditions at East Lake Golf Club have suffered," said Henry Hughes, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the PGA Tour.

"We are working diligently to improve and present the golf course in the best condition possible for next week's tournament.

"While restricting players' practice rounds and canceling the pro-am is not an ideal scenario, we felt this was the best decision in order to allow us a few more days to prepare the greens for the event.

"Despite the challenges, we are confident that the Tour Championship will provide an exciting, dramatic culmination to the FedExCup season."

The decision is another hit to the credibility of the FedExCup, a four-tournament playoff format developed to put the spotlight on the sport and bring the season to a dramatic end.

The series, however, has come under increasing criticism from players, with many of the big names, including world number one Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson skipping events.

Players will not be permitted to practice on the greens at East Lake, although they and their caddies can walk the course on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

They will be allowed to hit drives and approach shots on par four and five holes as long as they do not reach the green.

The PGA said it has replaced Wednesday's Pro Am with a question and answer session with all 30 players to qualify for the finale followed by a clinic and lunch.

"I've never heard of anything like that before," Woods said after third round play at the FedExCup penultimate event the BMW Championship.

"Certainly in my years on Tour and my years in amateur golf and junior golf, I've never heard of it being cancelled with good weather. This will be interesting to see."

Reuters