How PGA Tour Parity Is Driving FedExCup Interest

For the first time in four years of existence, the bitching and moaning about the FedExCup seems to be balanced by a genuinely piqued interest at the prospect of a pseudo-definitive close to the PGA Tour season.

Some fellow media members have tepidly embraced the Playoffs for what they are: not a true identification of the Tour's best player, but an exciting sequence of four great fields that have a time capsule view of great players as golf transitions to its silly/neverending season.

In his press conference yesterday, Phil Mickelson talked about the growing excitement among the players about the four year old format.

"I think it's actually continued to build. I think the players are more excited about it. They're starting to understand it a little bit more. They look forward to it," he said.

"I think we have a good point system that accomplishes all that it's meant to. And I think the players are really enjoying it."

Even in his remarks concerning his disqualification yesterday, Jim Furyk expressed support for the format and dismay that he couldn't fully participate in the festivities. 

Then again, for $10 million, most people would be excited to drink a vile of mercury.

But perhaps the sudden way in which the FedExCup is resonating - or, at least not nauseating - more and more of the public may have nothing to do with the points system, or the money grab, or anything like that. Maybe it is because for the first time since the series was introduced, the status of Best Player on the PGA Tour is truly in doubt.

A few weeks ago during a podcast appearance, I was asked who I would vote for as PGA Tour Player of the Year. This being my first time having such a vote, I had no good answer. I defaulted to Lee Westwood, whose record in the first three majors of the year really spoke for itself. Then again, Phil won the Masters and was also the aggregate score champion of the majors. For as bemoaned as Tiger's season has been with exactly zero wins, he had the best average finish in the majors.

What about the other three majors winners? None are PGA Tour members formally, so they're supposed to be out, but Kaymer had a great flurry in the last three majors - and a win.

Maybe Ernie Els or Jim Furyk should be considered. With as few multiple-time winners as there are this year, they get a nod for spurts of great performance. Then again, both were pretty much not heard from consistently after those spurts. That is, they were heard from, but not without a "yeah, but" somewhere following it.

The FedExCup actually has the potential - and I emphasize potential - to identify the best golfer of the year. It could really shed some light on who will finish the year strong. If any of the names mentioned above take the $10 million at the end of East Lake, they have my vote.

Tiger was asked about Player of the Year honors in 2008 and whether his one-legged US Open and nearly perfect season prior to that merited the award. He flatly declined saying that Paddy Harrington should win on the basis of taking two majors (in which, by the way, Woods did not participate). What would Tiger say now? No repeat major winners. Few repeat winners period. A lot of high finishers or consistent performers, but no dominant player.

In the last three years, the best player was clear. It was Tiger. Even when Tiger missed the Playoffs in '08, it was still Tiger. A singular player - typically Woods - has made a fall sprint to the pot o' gold in Atlanta. If that happens again this year, it will not be nearly as belittled because it will actually inform the conversation on Player of the Year. Were Woods to shine again in this series, it might even give him a vague shot at the award. At a minimum, it might earn him Comeback Player of the Year. (Hell, if Steve Stricker can win it two years in a row, then Woods can win it after his self-imposed hellstorm this year.)

The FedExCup format only works well for fans and observers when there is some doubt as to who the best player is. With a host of young and/or first-time winners this season combined with the monumental downfall of the game's greatest player, the ambiguity that could finally fuel the FedExCup's value to the public may finally exist.

The concept will never be a true Playoff. It won't necessarily identify who is the best player. But in this bizarrest of years, it may be a centerpiece in the chatter before the players and media cast their ballots for postseason honors.