Category: FedEx Cup
The FedEx Cup is the PGA Tour's name for its new end-of-season championship. Consisting of four rounds, in which the field is reduced at each stage, the finals will be played Sept. 13 - 16 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. East Lake, perhaps not coincidentally, was the home club of Bobby Jones.
Columnist Sticks Up For FedEx Cup
To Watch Or Not To Watch
To Watch The FedEx Cup or Not To Watch. That is the question.
The FedEx Cup point system is complicated, and football is in the air. So how do you know whether or not to watch the FedEx Cup?
Never fear. Golfblogger is here. I’ve created a handy flowchart to help you decide whether to watch the Fedex Cup or football. On Friday, just check the leaderboard and then refer to the chart below:
The whole thing is predicated upon the idea that I only watch sporting events where the outcome is in doubt. If Michigan is playing Appalachian State, there’s no sense in watching since the smaller team doesn’t have a chance. So if Tiger is in first on Friday, the outcome on Sunday is pretty much secure. If Phil or Steve are in contention, then it’s worth watching. If KJ or Rory are in the lead, then it’s only worth watching if Tiger is in the tank. If anyone else looks like they’re going to win, it’s not worth watching because Tiger can win simply by showing up.
Who Can Win The Fedex Cup?
Who can win the Fedex Cup? Thanks to Tiger and Phil each taking a week off during the FedEx Cup “Playoff,” the event is not quite a lock. From what I can gather—and not being a Tour mathematician—here’s how it seems to break down:
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Tiger, of course, signs the paperwork for the annuity with a win. The same goes for Steve Stricker.
Phil signs the paperwork if he wins at East Lake, and Tiger finishes with a tie for second or worse.
Rory Sabbatini and K.J. Choi sign if they win, and Tiger finishes out of the top 15. And that’s not going to happen.
If none of the above win at East Lake, Tiger apparently could finish last and still win whole shebang.
No one else apparently has a chance.
It will be interesting to see if any of the snowballs in hell drop out of the event this weekend.
Stricker Leads At Cog Hill
Steve Stricker continues his improbable renaissance by pulling into a one shot lead after three rounds of the Western Open BMW Championship.
Sticker is— without a doubt—the best story in golf over the last couple of years. Without a tour card in 2005, he came charging back two years ago on sponsors exemptions to win $2 million. This year, with card in hand, Stricker has been remarkable. He’s held the Sunday lead—or a share of it—at the US Open, The Open Championship, The AT&T National, and the Wachovia. He also has a victory at the Barclays, the FedEx Cup opening round.
Now, after having already won one of four FedEx Cup events, Stricker is poised to win a second. If he wins the Western, either Tiger or Phil apparently would have to win the final event outright to catch him.
I’d love to see Stricker collect the $10 million check fill out the paperwork for the delayed annuity (doesnt’ quite have the same victorious ring, does it?).
So—like millions of other golf fans—while I’m watching the first weekend of NFL games on the television (and worrying about my fantasy team), I’ll be thinking about Stricker on the course at Cog Hill. 
More On The FedEx Cup
The London Times has an article detailing player criticisms of the FedEx Cup.
I’m actually getting a little weary of all the criticism. But it’s interesting that I can’t find anyone who likes what’s going on.
