Now that the Deutsche Bank Championship is in the books, we're at the halfway point of the FedEx Cup. The BMW Championship is up next, followed by the Tour Championship. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves: unlike the Barclays, which played more like a pro-am than a playoff, the Deutsche Bank made for compelling viewing. First things first: Tiger Woods, who tied for second last week, started Monday's round nine strokes behind the leaders, fired a 63 to move into third, before eventually finishing tied for 10th. Not bad for a guy who began the day in 30th place.
Like the Barclays, their was a bottleneck atop the leaderboard. Retief Goosen, Sean O'Hair, and Steve Stricker co-led at 13-under through 54 holes. But Goosen and O'Hair stumbled to ninth-place finishes, while Stricker picked up where he left off at Liberty National. He was 2-under through 16 holes Monday, but finished birdie-birdie to avoid the five-man playoff that went to Heath Slocum last week.
Instead, the Wisconsin native won for the third time this year, and more than that, he's currently No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings. Stricker's victory is impressive given the field, but more so when you consider that Jason Dufner and Scott Verplank were already in the clubhouse at 16-under as Stricker stood in the 16th fairway waiting to hit his approach shot to the green.
Stricker has quietly been among the tour's best players the last few years, and he was integral in the American's Ryder Cup success last fall. So while we continue to wait for Tiger's Next Young Challenger to emerge from the shadows, I'm happy to bestow that honor on Stricker. He's earned it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-07-2009 @ 7:02PM
george said...
The sickness continues as evidenced by this story as it glorifies Tiger for finishing 10th.
Reply
9-07-2009 @ 7:14PM
Stephen said...
Hey George -- did you shoot a 63 in the last round of a Fed Ex Cup playoff event when needing something spectacular. I don't think so. Starting the day 9 shots off the lead and coming from 30th place to 10th is far more of an achievement than Steve Stricker wining the event. Yeah -- Tiger's slumping all right -- let's see, over the last five events Tiger has won two, finished 2nd twice and 10th today. Can any other PGA player match that kind of performance?
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 12:27PM
davidcpasq said...
no one can
9-08-2009 @ 4:38PM
cheryl said...
you tell him steve!!! why guys always haten on the TIGER?????
9-07-2009 @ 7:32PM
glid13 said...
TIGER WON 5 TIMES - STEVE 3 TIMES THIS YR,MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SCORING. STEVE IS NUMBER 1 IN FEDEX CUP POINTS.THE PGA MUST WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR GOV.
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 3:33PM
lilsis1234 said...
The difference in placement has to do with how they do when they don't win. Stricker has been more consistently near the top of the boards than Tiger, so he has more points over all. Stricker has been close to winning quite often this year, so even when he doesn't win, he gets lots of points.
9-09-2009 @ 12:51AM
revtjb said...
lilsis1234
That's not quite accurate that Stricker was more consistent than Tiger. The fact is, Stricker just played more tournaments. Stricker played 20 tournaments this year and averaged 280 Fedex points per tournament. Tiger only played 15 events and averaged 313 Fedex points per tourney - by far the highest average on tour. Most PGA tour players play well over 20 tournaments per year. Consider the player in 3rd place- Heath Slocum. He's played 25 times this year - but only averages 114 points per outing. These other players have to play 5-10 more tournaments than Tiger to try to get as many points, and most of them still don't get there...
9-07-2009 @ 10:41PM
George said...
Steve, get real. This is not about my game it is about the fact that AOL says "first things first" and talks about Tiger When the story should be that Sticker birdied 17 and 18 on the final day to win. Also the article mentioned Tigers 63 but does not mention that Stricker had a 63 in the 1at round. Also Sticker had 3 rounds in the 60's while Tiger only had 2. Sticker won. Tiger tied for 10th, Stricker beat Tiger by 5 shots Yet AOL choses to talk about "first things first"--Tiger. be fair don't be starstruck, the truth is the truth and has nothing to do with my golf game
Reply
9-07-2009 @ 10:44PM
fvpincb said...
The Golfers are not getting better, Tiger is getting worse....
Indian Fran.
Reply
9-07-2009 @ 11:11PM
nymom59 said...
Are you guys for real.Look at Tigers Career record .And you will see there is no one who has done what he has at his age. So what he has a slump.Overall he is the master of his own game and there is no denying it.
Reply
9-07-2009 @ 11:14PM
rude said...
One of the room service guys said he heard sobbing as he passed Tiger's room...
Reply
9-07-2009 @ 11:37PM
Ron Moskal said...
I am so glad to see Mr. no class get knocked off his throne! I am so sick of watching him do his victory dances and jestures! Why is it when a black comes along, so does his ridiculous jestures? This is golf, a game, not a sport, that 80 year old men and women play while wearing pastel shirts, with plaid trousers. Oh yea, and a goofy hat! Why the obnoxious jestures? Tiger Woods brought black culture to golf, and in doing so, I have crossed off another game or sport I will never pay to watch, nor will I waste my time watching any sport where there are 90% blacks on the field. The time has come to stop the take over of sports by blacks. Join the movement and boycott sports! We want obnoxioux sexual victory dances and jestures gone. We want an equal number of whites to blacks on the field or court. We want taunting, swearing. fighting. and assualts on fans, referees, and coaches to stop! You can make the difference by stop paying high prices for tickets. Without the spectators, (which are mostly white), the organizations will fold.
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 1:04AM
RICK CWELL said...
Ron...Ron....Ron
You sound like an idiot. Stop the take over of sports by blacks? You have a movement to do this? Spectators are mostly white....well you are right on that, but they love the game, the competition and the love of sports. Sorry that we finally after years of oppression have the right to show up on Sunday afternoon in your clubhouse. We are American....just like you. Your movement will never work.
9-08-2009 @ 1:46PM
jeremy said...
It's hard to believe that racism persists to this degree in this country but, thankfully there are people like you to remind us. The sports equivalent of apartheid you're wishing for might be more easily accomplished by fielding more competitive white athletes. Until then you will only be able to cry about your victimization and continue with the disingenuous offenses you claim to endure. It's pretty hard to justify the claims about the sexual dances and gestures. Unless, I suppose, you think woods fist-pumps his wife?
9-08-2009 @ 3:49PM
STEPHANIE said...
That is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. Why would anybody pay money to watch a bunch of SOFT white guys with no talent, no athletic ability, or unique skills do anything? If I want to be bored to sleep, I can just turn on NASCAR and watch them make left turns for 3 hours. I tried to watch Andy Roddick in the US Open(before he was knocked out). Do you know why Roddick can't beat Fedderer of Nadol? Because he's SOFT. Maybe if he pumped his fists sometimes he might get it!!!
9-08-2009 @ 4:54AM
pote207 said...
COULD NOT happen to a NICER GUY. Tiger needs to know he has his limits JUST like eveyone else. I am glad the SMUG, CRYBABY lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 5:08AM
fourklines said...
OK Golf Fans... time for a quick quiz...a taking of stock in the 2009 PGA season thus far....here we go...its a short quiz, might be a bit premature, but probably not....
Who is the PGA Golfer of the Year for 2009?
One hint...he's the guy who has won the most tournaments on the PGA tour this year.
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 2:15PM
woodnnicholsla said...
REALLY, THEY HAVEN'T NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. THEY DO THAT AFTER THE FINISH PLAYING FOR THE YEAR..DUMMY
9-08-2009 @ 5:15AM
lgwynn7213 said...
It always amazes me that so many racist morons can actually type! They turn every blog into either a race issue or an Obama issue....when will these people just DIE?
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 6:38AM
RAY said...
All of you Tiger haters will be singing a different tune at the end of the Tour Championship. Tiger = 2 Fedex Cups Stricker = 0 Fedex Cups. You all need to sit back and watch greatness. You'll never see it again in your lifetimes.
Reply