The Annual Plea to Make the FedExCup About Par, Not Points

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 21, 2010 2:06 PM EDT in Pro Golf

Before the FedExCup ever began in 2007, I was offering suggestions for how the system could be improved. After each of the new schemes have been introduced, I've offered other suggestions. When the season ends, I usually tack on a couple.

I've made too many at this point. I have none more to offer, so I maintain that a points system is great until East Lake. Then it should be a free-for-all for $10 million.

Gary Van Sickle has stood his ground on his suggestion for three straight years now. In 2008, he first proposed the FedExCup playoffs be contested against par, not points. The cumulative score relative to par would determine the FedExCup winner at East Lake.

After Brandt Snedeker'ed himself last year at Cog Hill, Van Sickle repeated his plea.

This year, with Tiger out of East Lake and a lot of complaining about it, Van Sickle makes a three-peat push for the idea.

It's simple, really. Play four rounds, make a cut. Play another four at a different tournament - effectively now having two tournaments at once - and make another cut. Do it again after the Western Open. Then the cumulative leader at the end of Sunday's round at East Lake takes the cash.

For fans, life would be a lot easier. Critics of the points system could finally stop complaining about the perceived notion that a playoff event has more points to it than a major. We could all replace our Excel spreadsheets with simple abacuses.

Everyone knows my stance, but what's yours: par, points, or pass on the FedExCup?

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The FedEx Cup serves to stir up some interest in golf at a time of year when there was almost none — college and pro football are kicking off in the US, and the golf majors are done for the year. We get four weeks of the top stars instead of none, so it’s a win.

As for making it about par, it is sort of silly. Let’s say that someone won the Barclay’s and BMW by a combined 11 strokes — not impossible — and did reasonably well in the third tournament. So they go to the Tour Championship with an 8 strike lead. That would mean that it would anti-climatic and almost impossible to lose the Cup. That would make for lower ratings, no matter who played.

I would rather see the system we have with anyone can win it, because that means you will see the top 5 playing to win, not playing to make sure they don’t come in 11th or something.

by Charles Boyer on Sep 21, 2010 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Don't really care one way or ta other

FedEx Cup won’t be around in another 2 years….All that will be left, is the Race in the desert…Obama and friends will have sucked our economy dry, and the Saudis will be the only ones left with the money…Well, maybe the Chinese, cause they will own the US anyway….Right Diane ?…..STUB

by thinker on Sep 21, 2010 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

Well, after shrub mortgaged two unnecessary, illegal wars by floating the paper to the Chinese I guess whatever we get is whatever we get. handi, I think you’re right.

"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky

by dianemarie on Sep 21, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a great idea, Ryan

Let’s do cumulative runs in the World Series, too.

"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky

by dianemarie on Sep 22, 2010 6:23 AM EDT reply actions

I thought the whole point of FedEx Cup was supposed to be that is was a “season long race”, with incentive at the end to give any player a chance to get into the Top 5 for East Lake – and that’s exactly what happened…Kuchar belongs there because he was the best overall performer over the season (and the money leader) AND he won a playoff event – Hoffman is an example of getting hot in the playoffs paying off – yes, his season stats didn’t earn him a high spot, but all players had a shot at winning and moving up dramatically. Will Hoffman be a contender at East Lake? I’m not sure. Would it have been cooler to see Mickelson or Els get hot and earn a top 5 spot…absolutely, but the fact is, they didn’t.

The nice thing is that this tournament is not just about the FedEx Cup, so it’s not a runaway for anyone…I’m guessing you might see Phil win again this year…can he win the FedEx Cup, too? Well, not unless the 5 stumble a little, but it’s possible…there are the chasers and there are the defenders – I think it makes for a compelling story for the weekend.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that 2 of the 5 guys in the top 5 are my favorite players, and I’d also be happy is Dustin won, so I have a great interest in watching this weekend.

The Tour Championship is a free for all, so I don’t think the FedEx Cup part of it has to be, too – players worked hard to position themselves to get into the top 125 and then it really became a free for all for 4 weeks – and now you’ve got a combination hot guys at the end (Hoffman/Casey) and yearlong performers (DJ/Kuchar/Stricker) each getting a shot at the big prize – with at least 5-8 other guys who can win the thing…with help.

I like it…

I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.

by red tees on Sep 22, 2010 8:28 AM EDT reply actions

I thought the Fed Ex cup was about keeping Tiger and Phil on the US tour,

So Fincham could secure more sponsors,etc etc. In that, it works to some degree…even if it has become boring already. But it’s put back the Ryder Cup a week and Wales is the wettest place in Britain. Get the brollys out :)

by Easingwold on Sep 22, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions