As someone who prides himself in golf knowledge, I am not afraid to tell you this -- I had absolutely no clue how the FedEx Cup worked when it was initiated last year.Sure, I read about it and knew it was coming up, but the whole system behind it just seemed unnecessarily complicated and a little bit ridiculous. Why can't they get the money until they retire?
Luckily for most, the PGA Tour tweaked the system a bit, making it a tad more friendly for the viewer and a lot less confusing for morons like myself. With the FedEx Cup playoffs kicking off this week at the Barclays, here is a quick guide to what exactly will happen over the next four weeks.
- Wait, How many players again? -- Last week was the final chance to get in the top-144 for this week's Barclays. Tiger Woods had the most points and Lee Janzen (no, seriously, that Lee Janzen) was the last guy in. After this week, the number will go to the top-120 at the Deutsche Bank Championship, then down to the top-70 playing the BMW Championship and will conclude with the top-30 at the Tour Championship. 144, 120, 70 and finally 30. Got it?
- Points Reset -- You know how players are awarded all those FedEx points throughout the season? Yeah, those are all reset when players are "seeded." Confused? Well, Tiger had 22,695 points before the reset, 7,517 more than fifth seeded Anthony Kim. Now, after the reset the difference between first and fifth is 1,250. The reasoning is to give more people the opportunity to make a move in these four weeks. That or Tim Finchem hates Tiger. Meanie.
- Cut, Cut, No Cut, No Cut -- The first two tournaments, the Barclays and the Deutsche Bank, have such big fields that there will still be a cut after Friday. Beginning at the 70 player BMW, however, there will not be cuts for it or the Tour Championship.
- Can Tiger Still Win This? -- No.
- Money, Money, Moooney -- As goofy as the playoffs sounded when they started, one thing the PGA Tour players couldn't complain about was the cash. The FedEx Cup winner gets the single largest payout in sports, $10 million buckaroos. Unlike 2007, where the winner received all of his money in a tax-deferred retirement account, the money this year will be paid out almost entirely up front (the winner gets $9 million up front, $1 million in his retirement fund). With an available payout of $35 million, even last place gets $32,000.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-19-2008 @ 10:12AM
gary said...
No one, I repeat no one, gives a fat rats patootie about either the Ryder Cup or Fedex Cup. Who cares if these guys win another $1,000,000?
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8-19-2008 @ 12:39PM
Patch said...
First off, a field of 144 players is too big for this event. probably only 25% have a real chance of winning. My gut feeling is that someone is trying to detract from the competitive history of the exisiting 4 majors with this $10 mil payout. Do a way with the FedEx points, Let the 4 majors determine who plays for the FedEx grand prize. Take the the top 60 players from the combined four majors, and let those 60 players (no cut line) play one 5 day tournament on a US Open type of set up. The eventual winner would have earned his money for sure with this format. Those who do not earn their way into the top 60 via the majors, can play some place else the rest of the silly season where they would have a better chance of contending. Patch
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8-20-2008 @ 7:14AM
Ron said...
very good idea! Better than all this other BS
8-19-2008 @ 5:27PM
muffdiver said...
Write it down now. The winner Anthony Kim. Not some drunken scot or irishman!
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8-20-2008 @ 1:01PM
ron said...
good choice, but that's why they play the tournament.........
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