FedEx Cup 3.0 Much Closer to Reality

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 6, 2008 12:42 PM EST

Rex Hoggard lets us know what it will be like, at least in principle:

Under the new plan, points awarded during the regular season would be re-calibrated with the top 125, down from the top 144, advancing to the first playoff event. Points in the post-season would be increased fivefold.

The top 90 after the playoff opener would advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship, down from 120, followed by the top 60, down from 70, earning spots at the BMW Championship.

The top 30 points earners will advance to the Tour Championship, and the points will be reset to assure that all 30 players have a mathematical chance to win the season-long race.

By delaying the reset until after the BMW, officials are trying to assure that a top player such as Harrington – who won the year’s final two majors but struggled in the playoffs and failed to advance to the Tour Championship – makes it to East Lake.

Under the new plan, a winner of a regular-season event would earn 500 points. Victories at a World Golf Championship and major championship would be worth 10 to 20 percent more, respectively. There was still debate, however, over how many points would be awarded for finishes at non-cut events such as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

And, of course, the bad news (in my opinion):

A head-to-head, winner-take-all shootout, possibly a match-play event between the top players after the Tour Championship, had been suggested but was not part of the Tour’s proposal.

“That really doesn’t work, because TV and the sponsors don’t want to see Brett Quigley playing Omar Uresti for the championship,’’ Quigley said. “You just never know with match play. They want the top players.”

This proposal just doesn't do it for me. Every guy that makes it to the Tour Championship should not have a legitimate chance to win the FedEx Cup. The point of a Playoff system (even in NASCAR) is to use a few events to whittle down the field - figuratively and literally - to a situation where only a select number of guys can actually win the grand prize in the finale.

I think that is where the winner-take-all shootout idea was brilliant. Have a Tour Championship that goes from Wednesday to Saturday, and then let the top 5 or 10 guys in the points battle it out, in one day, for all of the marbles.

I did remember saying that a Tour Championship that did decide the champion was ideal. But the champion should still be decided among 5 or 10 guys - not all 30 that get to Atlanta.

That's as cheap as having the Nationwide Tour Championship winner automatically getting a PGA Tour card next season. Why not just give another Tour card to Q-school? It's that kind of lottery.

I get and appreciate that the Tour is trying to make the Tour Championship into a relevant tournament, which it has not been in each of the past two years. Still, the Tour's attempts to be as egalitarian as possible creep into so many decisions that they make. It often ruins a great idea because players complain of unfairness.

So, that's my two cents. Whatcha think?

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Well, they addressed my biggest complaint

My biggest problem was that there were guys playing the final event with no mathematical chance of winning. That was absolutely huge to me. So, I consider that a big improvement.

However, while I understand the possible problem with a weak match play pairing, it works at WGC. And the likelihood of Brett Quigley playing Omar Uresti is miniscule. By nature, the best players tend to bubble to the top. It’s more likely that you’d get to see Tiger Woods smoke Omar Uresti. Even more likely is that you’d get to see Tiger Woods battle an excellent second tier player, like Appleby, Ogilvy, Kim, etc. These players might not be the super-elite, but they’re well-liked and would put on a good match.

by Double Eagle on Nov 6, 2008 1:28 PM EST reply actions

So you are ok with all 30 having a chance?

Just wanted to clarify. In that case, we would disagree, but I think we both agree that having the TC determine the FEC winner is an upgrade in the goal of the idea.

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 6, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

That's why I want match play

In this system, I’m OK with the 30. Optimally, it would be match play and work like playoffs in other sports where the winner moves on and so on. But if we can’t have that, then I need to have everyone playing on the last day actually in the event and not simply playing for some cash scraps.

by Double Eagle on Nov 6, 2008 1:35 PM EST reply actions

Fair enough

How about the one round shootout idea with X number of guys? Would that appeal?

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 6, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

That wouldn't be too bad, I think

As long as whoever is in the shootout is in contention for the FEC/TC.

by Double Eagle on Nov 6, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

I like the 30 player field

The idea of only 5 to 10 guys having a chance to win the final event at the start of it just isn’t appealing to me from a viewer/fan standpoint…maybe it’s fairest to the players, but I’m fine with the players battling it out to get to the top 30 and then they’re at a level playing field again…or maybe you have a shootout format each day – eliminate 5 or 10 guys each day and the finals is the top 10 or 15 on Sunday?

I like match play, but I can see how it might not convert TV very well -

I’m still a bit confused…is the purpose of the FEC to crown a Tour Champion, or just a side tourney for players to make more cash?

by red tees on Nov 6, 2008 1:58 PM EST reply actions

That's a good question

I think – in concept – it’s a Tour Champion.

I like the daily elimination idea, too, because I love the ADT Championship (RIP).

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 6, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

The reason for 30 or more...

…If you only have 8 or even 12 players in the field (that’s 4 or 6 tee times) – you can only sell 1/3 or less of the number of tickets. (The Tour Championship only sells 20,000 tickets plus another 5,000 for corporate sponsorships) Sponsors like Delta put up cash because people come by their tents at the course. (and they do sell out every year)

There are souveniers to sell and food – things that are more difficult to move if there are only 5,000 to 8,000 on site. It doesn’t matter that there are 25 or more guys in the field who don’t have a chance to win.

The purpose of the FEC is to (1) get the name Fed Ex in front of more people and (2) to crown a champion of a season long points race, plus 3 playoff events and 1 championship tournament. There is no special relevance to the rankings – just prestige and paychecks.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 6, 2008 2:43 PM EST reply actions

testosterone weirdness

Basing any legitimate activity, in this case golf, on driving in circles is pure weirdness. But then again, it’s generally men driving in circles, so there’s no chance the PGA Tour would even think about using the well thought out, easy to administer, logical LPGA system.

by dianemarie on Nov 6, 2008 3:40 PM EST reply actions

pssst

…track has been around for a lot longer than car racing….they run in circles…and women run track…and women drive race cars…

golf is a “round” – you go around in a circle of sorts…OOooooo…a 200 mph golf cart !! :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 6, 2008 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

now that’s a circular argument!

I said “generally men” not exclusively men.

by dianemarie on Nov 6, 2008 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Does it really matter ?

If Tiger doesn’t win the whole ball of wax – nobody will consider the title legitimate.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 6, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Yup

That’s the downside of anything like this.

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 6, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

Is it, though?

When I’m old and about to check out, I would consider myself fortunate to sit around telling my grandchildren what I saw Tiger Woods do.

Well, I’ll just say I wouldn’t consider other winners to not be legitimate, but if he wins, great.

by Double Eagle on Nov 6, 2008 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

we all will...

…but is it necessary to have a series of “playoff” tournaments and a “finale” that only get criticized, no matter what the outcome may be, to enjoy watching Woods play ? I like watching the guy play – but if it takes $10 million or a major for him to show up, I start to doubt the worth.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 6, 2008 9:23 PM EST up reply actions