From the Bottom of the Cup

By: Steve Gomen
Posted: May 15, 2007

That sound you hear is not that of pit row on the NASCAR circuit, but the violent pummeling of calculator keys trying to figure out who qualifies for the PGA’s brand new FEDEX CUP championship.  That’s right, the PGA tour is about to enter a new era.  Instead of playing out the regular tour schedule as we all have grown accustomed to, the tour is redefining the season, adding a playoff, and a new way to crown its champion.

The Fedex Cup Championship is underway with Vijay Singh your early leader after the first turn by virtue of his win in the opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii.  So what does this all mean and how does it work?  Heck if I know, but let’s take her out for a spin and see what we got.

Borrowing from the structure of the Nextel Cup series in racing, the new golf season will be divided into three stages:   The Season, The Playoffs and Tour Qualifying.    

The Season:  Points will be awarded for each tour stop victory and place of finish, much like the current money list standings, with more points being awarded for the four majors, the Players Championship and the World Golf Championship event.  At the end of the 33 scheduled events, the players will be seeded 1 to 144 and points will be reset based on each player’s accumulated point total during the season.  The First seed will be awarded 100,000 points; the Second seed will be awarded 99,000 points, and so on down to the 144th seeded player.

The Playoffs:  A four week, four tournament playoff beginning in late August.  Points for each tournament will be doubled and the field will be cut at the conclusion of each tournament with only the top 30 point earners eligible to play in the final TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP where the winner will be crowned Fedex Champion and handed a $10 million dollar check.

Tour Qualifying:  Their will be seven more tournaments immediately following the playoffs which will take us into early November.  The Fall Series gives those players who didn’t finish inside the top 30 a chance to improve their eligibility for the next year, secure their playing cards, and get a win under their belt.  The big names will more than likely skip this round, but the idea is that the competition will be heated and competitive, as the remaining players fight for their livelihoods.

Simple, huh - Like catching a tarpon with a pocket fisherman?  Let’s say for a moment that we fans don’t have to keep up with the point standings as the announcers will no doubt keep us informed with all their statisticians graphics.  And let’s suppose a majority of the top players make it into the field of 30.   And let’s suppose the final tournament is exciting and the championship is won by making a birdie on the 18th hole.  And let’s suppose the winner is - Joe Don Huckleberry.  That’s right, Joe Don Huckleberry who didn’t win a major during the year and in fact, won only one tournament.  And let’s suppose the runner up is Tiger Woods, who won three majors and nine tournaments overall.  Under this scenario the ten million and the title would go to Huckleberry?  Although, this would be a long shot, it is possible under this new format.

So, are we entering into a new era on the PGA tour where, much like the BCS in football, we begin debating who the real champion is?  Is it all too complicated?  Was the old system broke?  Many players are taking a wait and see attitude while following Mr. Finchem right down the fairway of what has made NASCAR racing a booming enterprise over the past several years.  I guess only time will tell if it works.  Hey, I wonder if Phil and Ernie will be able to concentrate over that four footer, after being flashed by a set of hooters from the top of an RV parked in the rough…