Options on the Table for FedEx Cup 3.0
by Ryan Ballengee
on Oct 9, 2008 10:51 AM EDT
From Steve Elling, here are some of the most popular options being considered at the Players Advisory Committee meeting next week in Las Vegas:
The match-play model: One sure-fire way to ensure that the Tour Championship is meaningful on Sunday of the final round would be to implement a seeded match-play format after 36 or 54 holes. But the pitfalls are considerable. The final match for $10 million might not produce two marquee names and might be closed out by the 12th or 13th hole. The networks, primarily NBC Sports, forked over too much rights-fee cash to be stuck with 90 minutes of dead air.
The Chamblee model: First espoused by Golf Channel analyst and former tour player Brandel Chamblee, his spin calls for the 72-hole stroke-play event to be staged to end on Saturday, with an 18-hole shootout for the $10 million held the following day featuring a handful of the top points earners. This plan ensures that the 72-hole tournament isn't diminished and creates additional drama Sunday, although if one player goes low, it risks being a runaway no matter what the tour does. Moreover, if a player finishes eighth in each of the four FedEx events and qualifies for the Sunday shootout, then fires a 65 and wins, does that player truly deserve the $10 million? If four players make the Sunday final, the difference between first and fourth could be a couple of shots -- and a difference of $8.5 million in bonus money. Is that fair? "Do we really want to go that route?" Dennis asked. "I don't know."
The Sports Illustrated model: This particular design was unveiled in a recent story by one of the magazine's golf writers and calls for the four FedEx series events to be an aggregate affair. In other words, the guy with the lowest score over 16 rounds wins the grand prize, sort of like NASCAR runs the Sprint Cup competitions with cumulative points over 10 season-ending races. The same limitations above hold -- a player could win the prize without winning one of the four FedEx events. A player caught in bad weather could unduly suffer compared to others, etc. Mind you, the FedEx points champion receives a whopping five-year tour exemption, so it had better not be a fluky, undeserving winner.
The Draconian model: That's Dennis' term, and it fits. Some revisionists have proposed throwing out the points after the third FedEx event and having the Tour Championship finale stand as a 30-man free-for-all, with everybody starting out with a clean slate. This scenario, of course, means anything accomplished over the season, or the first three FedEx series events, would be rendered moot.
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Why is it that the LPGA and Euro/Dubai people have managed to get things like this done with little or no pain, but the PGA Tour can’t seem to get out of their own way.
Match Play WILL NOT FLY – TV hates it because there is only one guarantee in match play – that there ARE NO GUARANTEES in match play.
Chamblee’s idea only flies for people who actually enjoy the 90 hole Bob Hope Desert Classic. Most of the players hate playing 90 holes.
SI – not terribly bad – but like you said – if weather gets involved, there can be a real mess. And there is no such thing as an “undeserving winner” on the PGA Tour. The man who shoots the lowest score for 72 holes has earned the win.
Also – remember – this isn’t a tournament that resets the rankings. Just because Bart Bryant won the Tour Championship a few years back doesn’t mean that he became the #1 ranked golfer for the year or in the ranking system. He won a tournament that is (sadly) named The Tour Championship. The Fed Ex Cup winner doesn’t get any special consideration – it is a BONUS POOL – not a tournament.
Draconian – I lean more this way – earn your spot in the final by working your way through the first three events. This “rendering the regular season and first three playoffs MOOT” is pure crap. To get into the playoffs you have to be in the top 144 – which means that 60+ guys were eliminated in the regular season. Then there are eliminations to 120, 70, and 30. NOTHING is moot. If you’re good enough to get into the final 30 – then you deserve to be there.
Come up with qualifying for the Tour Championship something like the LPGA does – Major, WGC, and The Players winners are in (just add a requirement that they play at least 2 playoff events – $7 million is on the line – they’ll show up) – points leaders to a certain number are in (top 20-30). Playoffs don’t start at 144 – that’s too many people. Start with the people who have earned their cards for the next year. 120 is a lot – but it’s better than 144. The Playoffs are for the remaining spots in The Tour Championship. If there are 5 spots available – then the top 5 not already qualified are in by cumulative Playoff points. Geeez – now I sound like SI – too complicated.
When they get to Atlanta – every man for himself. If a Bart Bryant steps up and takes the top prize – he EEEAAAARRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNED it.
The Euros kept it simple – they just believe that the cream rises to the top and a big name will win. They aren’t whining.
The LPGA gave their first million dollar prize to…anyone ? anyone ?? Julietta Granada. WHO ??? The biggest single paycheck ever on the LPGA went to Julietta Granada. It happens. It’s golf.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Oct 9, 2008 11:26 AM EDT 0 recs
I like the Draconian approach best
but would be ok with the Chamblee. I get that the Ponte Vedra guys don’t want to copy the LPGA Tour. That means they probably don’t want to copy the European Tour, so the Draconian is out. You’re left with Chamblee, which isn’t bad. At least it somewhat resembles the ADT, which I love.
I also agree with you that there should be automatic berths into the Tour Championship for the major winners, and maybe the Players winner. That way, the maximum field would be 35.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 9, 2008 11:47 AM EDT 0 recs
they would still use points...
…in the Chamblee system, wouldn’t they ? I’m sure they would still only have 30 at The Tour Championship. Still not sure about 90 holes. The big guns wouldn’t go for that.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 11:51 AM EDT
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90 holes is a lot
But one round for $35 million should get anyone excited. Right?
by Ryan Ballengee on
Oct 9, 2008 12:02 PM EDT
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not $35 million
it’s not one round for $35 million – it’s one round for $10 million. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 12:09 PM EDT
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Gimme match play
…for the entire final event, not just the last round. TV be damned. Maybe not realistic, given the economics, but it would be the best way to crown a champion. And it works for WGC.
by Double Eagle on Oct 9, 2008 12:05 PM EDT 0 recs
works for purists...
…like us – but as soon as Tiger or Phil are out – the viewership goes into the toilet. The WGC match play is there for tradition.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 12:11 PM EDT
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Let's give it a try
So far, we’ve had two years of this, and both fell way short. Let’s start trying some of these different ideas, even if not the match play. Let’s find something that works and then move on. It’s the continual tweaking of a (in my opinion) flawed idea that gets under my skin.
by Double Eagle on
Oct 9, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
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The First Year
Ok – chime in here – how did the first year fall short ? They went in with the desire to just hand over $10 million in Fed Ex money to Tiger Woods – they got that wish.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Oct 9, 2008 12:30 PM EDT 0 recs
Fair enough
But they also hyped an exciting playoff system.
by Double Eagle on
Oct 9, 2008 1:48 PM EDT
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sort of - yes
most of the “excitement” they promised was Tiger Woods, and the assumption that a $35 million prize pot would just have people of all walks of life foamning at the mouth – ready to turn off college and pro football, plus NASCAR, plus the MLB playoffs.
OOOPS.
They got Tiger – and enough people have been brainwashed by the media to believe that if Tiger doesn’t win, it’s not worth watching. Same thing is going on with Tampa Bay in baseball – the media has already declared the playoffs a bust if the Red Sox don’t meet the Dodgers so they can see what Manny does back in Fenway. Woop-dee-doo.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 1:54 PM EDT
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This is why I don't like the media
Everyone knows it’s going to be the Phillies in the World Series. :)
by Double Eagle on
Oct 9, 2008 2:14 PM EDT
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LOL
I don’t have a favorite in the race – but EITHER team from the NL is going to be tough in the Series. That bunch of bats the Phillies have are really tough.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 2:18 PM EDT
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my thought
I’m usually wrong, as CG likes to remind me, about PGA Tour stuff because I really don’t care enough to follow it closely. But reading through the four proposals and the supporting and rejecting opinions, it seems like the Tour wants to rig the system so there’s an illusion anyone could win, but in reality they want one of the Big Three Glamor Guns to take home the bucks in an event that will have people watching on the tee-vee machine until the end of the broadcast.
Unfortunately, one of those Glamor Guns is going to have the FEC sowed up by the end of the third tournament. The portion of the television audience that doesn’t do anti-climax will find another activity on Sunday afternoon.
I think the problem is concept, not format.
by dianemarie on Oct 9, 2008 3:40 PM EDT 0 recs
SHE GOT IT !!!!!!!
Exactly right – D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Oct 9, 2008 5:03 PM EDT
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