"Without the win-or-go-home scenario that defines playoff competition in team sports, the FedEx Cup will never generate widespread public interest or earn critical acclaim."
Some prominent writers have very different takes on the FedEx Cup.
First, John Hawkins nails it in this Golf World column:
Pro golf does not lend itself to a playoff format. The current model is flawed both inherently and procedurally and, thus, has virtually no chance of succeeding. Without the win-or-go-home scenario that defines playoff competition in team sports, the FedEx Cup will never generate widespread public interest or earn critical acclaim.
Jim McCabe takes the view that because we've gotten great fields and some nice finishes at a time of year when stars would not normally play, we should look past the fatal flaws which prevent the FedEx Cup from actually becoming a great sporting event and buzz-generating moment for the game.
I think that reasoning is more flawed than ever simply because Tiger Woods and other starts will NEVER play all four playoff events again when they learn this, which I picked up in Tweets today from Doug Ferguson:
Steve Elling picked up on Commissioner Finchem's remarks Wednesday, tabulates Woods as having been the 3 seed if he'd taken three weeks off, and notes this:
Woods could have skipped the first three FedEx events and been seeded No. 3 this week, which means he could still have claimed the $10 million bonus with a victory at East Lake on Sunday. When he learned that fact from a reporter on Wednesday, he muttered disgustedly to himself.
Hey, we know the feeling.
And here's where Finchem was asked about it:
Q. Not to get into details, but are you aware that Tiger could have sat out the first three playoff events and still been seeded as high as No. 3?
COMMISSIONER FINCHEM: No, and I'm glad he didn't.
Q. Are you comfortable with that?
COMMISSIONER FINCHEM: Tiger is pretty adept at this. Tiger's view was his best chance of winning was to play them all and make sure he was the No. 1 seed. I think the No. 1 seed has an advantage this week. It's like I've always characterized as kind of a home field advantage. You can still get beat, but you've got an advantage. Tiger usually plays to have an advantage.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Reader Comments (14)
I've sent it around to the powers that be and media gurus. If you all like it, let's pump it up and push it.
Just an idea from a golf fanatic!
If you can qualify and only play one event, fine. Because at the end you will need to play well to win it all. Think the Patriots undefeated regular season with their epic lose to the Giants in the big one.
A. Yes, quite; because as some of you are now aware, I've got a Neuralizer. And I plan to sneak it on board PRIVACY with me ... and I ... during my annual Buddies Bonefish-Tarpon-Permit Weekend with Tiger, probably while we're anchored off the coast of Cape Eleuthera ... oh, I have it here... .
or...
A. As some of you have already sussed out, I do have... I do have next season's "Dancing with the Stars" try-outs penciled in ... as one of my 2010 value props. I began practicing after Cog Hill was officially in the can ... on the books. Next question.
Final tournament, if it's to be like a Bowl or a major, should have all participants having an equal chance of winning. That's the only way the thing can deserve credibility.
Forgive me if you've heard this before regarding PLAYOFFS structure: Start with first 120 guys in points list. Week One has top point earner and all odd-numbered players in list. The top ten from this week qualify for East Lake. Week Two has second-placed point earner and all even-numbered players in list; the top ten from this week advance to East Lake. Thus 20 golfers wedge it out for the final tournament (at East Lake, sponsored by etc.)
PLAYOFFS would be four rounds of stroke play.
Moreover, how about having the first two PLAYOFFS the same week (as above) - different cities, each with 60 players. Top ten from each qualify for East Lake the next week. Thus you have a two-week PLAYOFFS schedule. Leaner and meaner, more exciting...
BIG PLUS with this system is that points don't matter once PLAYOFFS begin.
(will now read mrpgolf's idea and if it's the same i'll feel silly)
The top 5 guys have their destiny in their own hands. Win and it's all yours. Everybody else needs help.
You could load it so that a Tiger Woods got a bye perahps as far as the quarterfinals, so that you would know he'd be on for at least some prime-time tv. And, he be appropriately rewarded for earlier good play.
Match play is really the only win-or-go-home solution.
A match play final will never sell to TV. That's a fact. Get used to it.
How about this: Let the top 30 qualify for the "playoffs" and let them play the 4 events stroke play and the low cumulative score wins.
Steven T...I knew someone would say that, but I sincerely think it would sell. Did you read the article I wrote and the potential match-ups? I think it works.
But if you disagree, I can respect that.
Frankly, I just want to see the golf get better.
BABY!