"Until gambling on golf becomes part of the mainstream betting action, like college and pro football, the PGA Tour will never have a real chance to make a mark in the fall."

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The SI golf group contemplates the positive ramifications of the LPGA playing a well known tournament course in Torrey Pines (I have to agree, they should do it more often if at all possible). However, this was a more interesting debate related to the FedEx Cup finale:
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Tiger Takes Day Off; Falls In FedEx Cup Standings *

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Now, I know the team at PGATOUR.com is doing their job and doing it amazingly well to keep on top of FedEx Cup scenarios, but look at this disaster of points breakdowns, scenarios, permutations and other nonsense.

Look, I get it that you want to reward the season and playoff play. But the most recent points reset really undermines that argument. If you have to gerrymand the FedEx Cup finish, then it'll never be taken seriously. Never!

Why are all these tough-guy, free-wheeling, free-market loving gamblers associated with the PGA Tour so afraid of old-fashioned, head-to-head, no points stuff, true playoff play at East Lake? Would it be too stressful?

Tiger Wins; Playoffs Take Week Off To Let Fans Ponder Points Permutation Possibilities

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I tell ya, the drama of wondering how these beancounters keep up with the shifts in points had me watching tennis. Maybe we can get a camera inside the ShotLink trailer, because that's where the numbers crunching probably goes on and where the real FedEx Cup drama lies. Anyway...
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Shocker: Players Exhausted As Playoff Stretch Nears Next Confusing Point Reset

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The idea of playing the playoffs so soon after the PGA Championship has never made sense both because of the sheer volume of starts required, but also because it competes with so many sports at their peak (football, tennis, baseball). And as Thomas Bonk writes, the players are already speaking up that this year's run is not going to be repeated if they have any say.
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Finchem Vows Playoffs Will Go On In Spite Of Vijay's Elimination

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It is hard to imagine, but one of the great ratings draws will not be moving on to Cog Hill and East Lake. Some people might rejoice when hearing they are being spared two weeks of Rees Jones redesigns, but not when you're defending FedEx Cup champion. It didn't help that the PGATour.com team didn't even list you in the "Fell Out Of The Top 70" list, but big guy, we remembered to look you up here at GS.com.
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"None of the greats go a career without having a futile moment with the putter."

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There are a couple of worthwhile looks at Tiger's recent putting "woes" of late (wouldn't we all love to putt so poorly). Thanks to reader Joey for Thomas Boswell's take in the Washington Post. Boswell says Tiger has "learned how to lose" and makes an interesting but ultimately hard-to-buy comparison with Jack Nicklaus's career arch.
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