Paired in the final group tomorrow, Tiger and Kenny both wouldn't mind sinking the $11 million putt!
The Tour Championship certainly heated up today, as old man Kenny Perry took the lead shooting six under! The ageless Perry now has a two shot lead on Tiger, and a four shot lead on the surprise of the day, Phil Mickelson. The FedEx Cup wraps up tomorrow, and the possible $10 million bonus coupled with the $1.35 million first prize in the Tour Championship could make there be an $11.35 million dollar putt on the par 3, 18th green of East Lake Golf Club. I’m not going out on a limb to say that this could be the most expensive putt of all time. Tough to really foresee anyone but Tiger winning this even if he is two strokes out, but both Perry and Woods have a very good shot at making this amazingly pricey putt. Also there is the possibility for Stricker, O’Hair, and Harrington could make the pay day putt, but they will need an amazing day to make that happen. If you had to pick someone, it’s impossible to pick against Tiger when the pressure is on.
The fun part of today was seeing Phil get into a good groove as he shot four under! It’s been a few months since he was close to the top of the leaderboard, so hopefully he can take something positive going into next season. I can’t think of one person that roots against the guy, and it’s pretty remarkable to be liked across the board the way he is. He’s had about as tough of a year as anyone could have with family health problems. Hopefully he’ll come out of the gates on fire tomorrow, and give us a show! It’s always fun when he’s in the hunt! Here’s a good interview with Phil, after today’s round today.
Q. You’re going to be in contention here for the first time in a while.
PHIL MICKELSON: It feels great. I haven’t been in contention since the Open. It’s been a few months, mainly because of my putting, and again, I look back on Thursday where I threw six shots away from three holes, otherwise I’d be leading. But to come back the way I have and play the way I have, I feel like I’m playing some really good golf, that no matter how many shots back I am, I think I’ll still be a factor.
By
cali4dre
chappy81
dyslecix
mceezy
Doin Work 
September 26th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
chappy
I find the Fedex Cup playoffs somewhat moronic. In reality all the fans want to see is for Tiger to contend in the majors. And then beyond that those other wins on the PGA Tour , let those speak for themselves. OK , so at the Tour Championship the winner will take home a check in excess of $1.35 million . And whoever ends up atop of the Fedex Cup standings get a $10million payout by way of annuity.
But in all honesty it’s the four majors and season ending Tour Championship is really all that matters for Woods to begin with. Hell in bad year he’ll make in excess of $4million from tour earnings and several times that amount from his off the field endorsements. This whole format for Fedex Cup is about as thrilling as watching paint dry or watching either Spears or one the Simpson sisters lip sync.
Alan Parkins
September 26th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I’m not saying that it’s more important than a major or that it even remotely means anything in Tiger’s bank account. The guy is worth over a billion, but I just find it intriguing how much a single putt can be worth. It would just be pretty crazy if it came down to it on the 18th hole.
I don’t see why you don’t like the FedEx Cup or find it “moronic”. It’s already solved the issue golf had going into the end of every season, all the top pros were over it. They didn’t care about the tourney’s because no body good was in the field. This makes it very relevant at the end of the year, and also is a big thing to put on your resume. If you beat the field of the best 120 people that season it says something. It’s not like they play one round and win it all, it’s an accumulation of four tournaments!
September 26th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
What has the Fedex Cup solved if anything ? Other than the fact that it’s just another scenario before the offbeat silly season of golf. Wherein the players’ll be wondering the world and participating in made for television events that in some cases will pay more money just for turning up thant for finishing 5th place or lower in an official PGA sanctioned event.
All the Fedex Cup is – well it’s nothing more than getting added attention for Fred W Smith’s already burgeoning company. I mean it’s only Fedex and UPS are the real players in town when it comes to priority overnight deliveries and the other numerous services they supply. Tour commissioner actually felt that NASCAR’s system would be of benefit to the game and it’d keep the fans interested as the season progressed. Well we’re now seeing dwindling attendances for the NASCAR events and lower tv ratings as it is. And it’s the same with the PGA Tour as well as the LPGA. ‘nough said !
I don’t know what template Finchem has been looking at but clearly he didn’t work out the kinks and details . This whole thing is a misnomer !
Alan Parkins
September 27th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I thought you were a fan of seeing the best in the world play, but I guess not. I don’t really care who sponsors it, and btw DHL is another carrier, I just care about the level of play on the course. I like seeing this year’s best go at it. I guess we’ll just disagree on this one, because I was very skepical when they started this playoff scenario, but it’s exceeded my expectations… I’d agree ratings are lower in any tournament that Tiger isn’t playing in, but he is in there, and around the top of the leaderboard not surprisingly… This gets fans like myself interested!
September 28th, 2009 at 8:29 am
chappy
Obviously you don’t see where corporate sponsorship benefits sports. How the hell do you think the prize money is derived at ? It’s not through the entrance fees paid by the likes of Woods and Mickelson. As for seeing the best in the world play. You take the rankings of the world top ten at present. And other than Woods and perhaps Harrington and Lefty when his game is going. How many of them are really all that consistent ?
Lefty won the Tour Championship and Tigers ends up winning the Fedex Cup . But at the end of the day it’ll be the Majors that’ll equate to greatness when it comes to assessing both players’ bodies of work. Not the perfunctory week in week out tournaments.
And oh by the way , still of the opinion that the Raiders are a disciplined team ?
Alan Parkins
September 28th, 2009 at 9:31 am
No shit, corporate sponsors make these things work. You can say that for any sport. They are all businesses. Personally, I don’t think your a fan of golf. I don’t blame you for only wanting to watch them Majors, but I’d say that 90% of people I talk to or play with think that the FedEx Cup is good for golf, and I agree… I believe that the Majors are the most important thing in golf, but winning the FedEx Cup WILL be a very important addition to a players resume five or six years down the road, why else would everyone play in it? Has it hurt golf? No, it’s improved the end of the season, and that’s my point! I don’t know what you’re trying to argue between corporate or the actual players in the event… If you respond, please tell me how it was better before!
As for the Raiders, I’m still too pissed to talk about them… Probably won’t see another post from me about them for a loooong time.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:45 am
It’d appear that you haven’t done any research yourself into how the points are rewarded. That’s what makes the thing a complete joke ! I know that they’ve tiered it towards the bigger events on the Tour , as they should. But it’s the points system and how it’s derived at that continues to make no sense. In its two years of existence they’ve tinkered with . Much to the chagrin of several players on the Tour. Not only that but many of the events that are favored over others merely because of the sponsors and who they are. Where’s the fairness in that ?
It now makes it somewhat of an un-level playing field when it comes to which tournaments certain players opt to play in. It was one thing when Finchem was complaining about player not playing enough events. Now he’s got them picking and choosing which is more beneficial for them to play in , accordance with prize money and points. So where does that leave some of the smaller tournaments to begin with.
dyslecix
Without the sponsorship and tv right you seem to forget that the prize money wouldn’t be what it is today. So who’s kidding whom here ? And oh by the way do you not think that it hurts CBS , ABC and NBC when they can’t even muster a rating of a 5 share or above when Woods isn’t playing ? They’re answerable to the advertisers when the viewership isn’t there. As that dictates the rates they in the end up paying . So like I said who’s kidding whom here ?
So The Blues bit the dust at the hands of Wigan 3-1 ? Who saw that one coming ? Not me that’s for sure !
Alan Parkins
September 28th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Ok, thanks for making your point more clear this time. I didn’t get that you don’t like how the points are awarded till now. I think this platform is pretty solid. I don’t think that the moans from players that ended ranked 121-130 in the standings should be a concern, becasue they should have played better. As far as placing emphasis on the points more in some tournaments than others it’s impossible to please everybody. I understand that they are trying to get more guys to go to some of the tournaments (to make sponsors happy), which in the end isn’t the worst idea. And in those cases where more of the top players go to an event becasue a tourney is worth more, doesn’t that that fact alone mean it should be worth more points? Better players = more points. Seems fair to me… Basically, I think the smaller tournaments shouldn’t count for as much for the reasons stated above….
September 29th, 2009 at 8:04 am
chappy
The points system and how its awarded is biased towards certain PGA tournaments. Nevermind the fact that since its inception -each year without fail the PGA has tinkered with it. It’s no wonder the likes of Els, Singh, Appleby had been very vocal about it. Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is once again thinking about tinkering with it again. So I say to you once again what’s so great about the system to begin with ? If they can’t even settle on a system that’s of benefit to the players and tournaments on the Tour.
If Finchem wants to do something that’s an incentive. Then why not award the points in terms quality of entrants-number of tournaments played and then add bonus points for wins in the Majors. That’s not what is being done as of this moment in time.
See the following link provided . Ergo Finchem at pay once again. I’ve also left part transcript below.
Fedex Cup playoffs could see more tweaks
As Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods stood side by side on the 18th green of East Lake Golf Club in the fading light of Atlanta on Sunday, all looked perfect in the world of the FedExCup playoffs.
Golf’s two biggest stars and the world’s top two players each were clutching a trophy, beaming for the cameras and thinking about the millions of dollars about to be wired to their bank accounts after Mickelson won the thrilling playoff-ending Tour Championship and Woods the FedExCup title.
Click on the above link to read the article in its entirety.
And by the way, all Woods had to do to win his second Fedex Cup title was to finish in the top 5. For Stricker to win it all outright , he’d have needed Woods to finish outside the top 10. So it wasn’t as clear cut as you’d thought.
Alan Parkins
September 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am
dyslecix
Then why have a points’ system -much less a playoff ? It’s done nothing whatsoever !
Finchem’s just been tinkering with a system and has continually made it worse rather than better. Since its inception it’s been one change to the next.
Alan Parkins
September 27th, 2009 at 4:57 am
chappy
Dopped this on the ‘noles loss to South Florida and that ‘sham of a fight’ that took place last night.
Did Hell Freeze Over I Must’ve Missed Something …..
Alan Parkins
September 27th, 2009 at 4:59 am
Did Hell Freeze Over I Must’ve Missed Something …..
Alan Parkins
September 28th, 2009 at 10:06 am
The FedEx Cup has given new life to the PGA Tour outside of the four majors. Not only does it force the top players to play more regularly during the regular season (Finch’s ultimate goal to begin with), but it also gives huge incentives to the entire field of 120 who make to the final four weeks (a separate conversation if we really must elaborate). In years past the PGA season was essentially over after the PGA Championship, the Cup has insured its star players we play late into the season…..I think I have to go with Chappy on this one, if you can’t appreciate the top 30 golfers in the world playing on the final Sunday of the regular season, your not a golf fan!
Also, get over the sponsorship angle….The TV revenue is what really speaks in terms of Money. And I’m sure NBC, CBS, and ABC are beyond delighted they have the Cup going.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:49 am
chappy
For sports such as golf , football, and and the other high profiled it’s the prescient factor.
When it comes to golf I can take it or leave it. As to its history let’s just say it’s a misnomer. Were it not for the likes of Lee Elder, Charlie Sifford and Jim Thompson . There would have been no Woods on the PGA Tour to speak of. It’s not as if the likes of Nicklaus or Palmer ever did their bit to make them even feel welcomed much less make a call for the game to be integrated during the sixties.
The Fedex Cup hasn’t improved anything on the PGA Tour at all ! It’s all contrived to merely add money in the pockets of the PGA . Not that it needs it at present. Look at the so called mess when it comes to NASCAR‘s own system ? Both have been already tinkered with. So what has that already suggested to you ?
When it comes to the sport and being a fan. Ask a person’s thoughts first, rather than being presumptuous. It gives you a greater insight as to their thoughts.
Alan Parkins
September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I’m not sure why you’re bringing up integration or the money aspect. I actually don’t like Tiger, and usually root for anyone that’s playing against him, but that’s besides the point. I’m holding firm that this is good for golf and golf fans! Please tell me why you think the FedEx Cup isn’t beneficial to golf? I’m having a hard time understanding what your problem with it is. Has it made golf worse in your mind?
I know next to nothing about NASCAR, so your comparison went over my head on that one. I think you know my take is by now, and why I see the FedEx Cup being beneficial to golf and fans alike over the old format of nothingness at the end of the season. Hell, when they started doing it, I was totally against it, but now I’ve come around to the point where I anticipate it!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:18 am
this is lame….The article you provived expands upon our orginal point. “it seemed the PGA Tour’s grand plan to bring golf’s biggest stars together for a season-ending, grandiose atmosphere of huge consequence was a huge hit.” This is exactly what the tour was unable to do with tournaments after the PGA Championships in years past, further more it keeps REAL golf fans coming back to watch all the way through the last event.
Let’s get off the ‘point system isn’t perfect, so the whole thing sucks’ theme….its a weak claim.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:29 am
dyslecix
Another point to add on to that. You opine on the Fedex Cup and the PGA’s grand plan about bringing the best golfers together. Then answer me this , what’s the point of WGC events then ?
Alan Parkins
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I’ve already explained this, you obviously haven’t taken my points in and don’t plan to lets be done with it shall we…
As for WGC events…THEY DON’T COME AT THE END OF THE SEASON. AGAIN, the PGA Tour was looking for a format to continue interest in there season AFTER the PGA Championship.
I’m over this.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:02 am
dyslecix
So they don’;t come at the end of the season. Wow !
They incorporated those events into their calendar to allegedly draw the very best that the game had to offer. So I say once again what’s the point of having the Fedex Cup playoffs. It adds to the luster of the PGA ? I mean come the offseason you’re going to have these guys competing in their silly season offseason. Where the payouts in some cases’ll be far greater than some of the official prize monies on tour.
Like I said Finchem has been tinkering with this and it hasn’t achieved that much to begin with. It’s not created the suspense he’s wanted , nor has it brought about the desired viewership via the broadcasts as had been first stated.
In the midst of doing a piece on Trojans’ tailback Stafon Johnson and his unfortunate accident.
Man this is a tragedy that may well end up curtailing his career for good.
Alan Parkins
September 29th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Dude, the same points are in each reply, so here’s my personal synopsis of the FedEx Cup. I NEVER watched golf after the PGA Championship, because A) the best players wouldn’t go, and B) the best players weren’t there! Now, for the last four tournaments we had the best 30 players of this season playing together. I don’t care how the points were earned, the guys who were number 121 and 122 that didn’t get into the playoffs didn’t deserve it! They should have done something to get them those extra 200 points… Anyways it’s not about the guys on the bubble it’s about having the top 25 guys all on the course every weekend, and guess where they were, on the course where I could watch them! Maybe you don’t see the suspense in it, but I felt like it was a great bunch of tournaments at the end of the year. If they have to tweak a couple things, so be it. The format is pretty new and there’s always changes that need to be made. Vijay is an asshole, so I could care less if he doesn’t like the format.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:11 am
chappy
The format is what it is. And they’ll continue to tinker with it, come what may. But in actuality what you’ll continue to get is the likelihood of Lefy and Woods continuing to reign over the PGA.
Alan Parkins