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Maggert: Finchem Shoved FedEx Cup 'Down Our Throats'

Monday, August 20, 2007 Comments

Jeff Maggert told Ed Hardin of the Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record that he's tired of hearing criticism of Tiger Woods for skipping this week's Barclays, the first tournament in the FedEx Cup. Maggert, in fact, says none of the touring pros are enthusiastic about the tour's playoff.

"Probably half the players out here couldn't care less about [the FedEx Cup]," he told Hardin. "The other half are indifferent."

Maggert said tour commissioner Tim Finchem should take the blame for the indifference in the clubhouse.

"I hear a lot being written, but I don't see anybody writing anything about Finchem," Maggert said. "I mean, this was his idea. He really didn't consult any of the players. He kind of shoved it down our throats and said, 'This is what we're going to do.' "

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2007 FedEx Cup

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Archived Comments (5) Click to expand

The Fed ex cup, so far, is a mess.
The PGA has yet to make it clear how the point system works so people would know what the weekly accumulation of points for the respective player means once the tournament starts, and in relation to points won during the 4 events. What now does Tiger Woods' 30000 points mean?? they say the players start over. What does that mean?
what are the points awarded in each tournament ??? If a player squeeks by to get into the tournament at 144th, then squeeks by enough each the 1st 3 , then wins the last won, does he win all??
The consumer and golf fan has no information about this, at least that I could find on the web..all the tv hype paid for by the PGA, yet no info on how it works?? what nonsense. Now, who cares??!!

The season really starts with the Masters and ends with the PGA; before and after are just side shows. Even the Q school tournaments at the end of the season are more interesting.

Tiger has won all those tournaments and the PGA major. Would we ever accept that a winner of the fed ex cup is really the season champion? If Fed ex foolishly gives me 10 million, like they are putting up for the winner, then maybe i'll accept another as the season champ, but it really won't count because I would privately believe otherwise, and my public acceptance of another would have been bought and paid for. They could and should have put a little time and money into publicly explaining the point system, with examples, unless it is still a secret, even to them. What a folly!!
Julian Greenspun
Gaithersburg, MD

Posted by jgreenspun August 20, 2007 1:00 PM

Julian...take the time to read a little. You can find exhaustive, comprehensive explanations of the FedEx Cup points system at pgatour.com. The Tour media guide, available for public sale, covers it in four pages. What does a player having so many points mean? What does Jeff Gordon's x-number of points mean in NASCAR? You and Jeff Maggert could take the time to be better informed before spouting off.

Posted by fhoward August 20, 2007 2:16 PM

Furthermore, the Tour has been lambasted frequently for spending too much time promoting the FedEx Cup. You seem to think they didn't do enough. Which is it?
Can the Tour ever win with people like you?

Posted by fhoward August 20, 2007 2:17 PM

re: FedEx Cup.

I can understand why the tour has been promoting it, they're never slow to utilise a money spinning oportunity I just don't think golf translates that well to this format, as it is really the tour championship rehashed a little.

However points are accumulated during the season, I'd start every one at zero for the playoffs - may be giving the top 10 a first round bye but still they'd have to compete in all of the other tournaments to win AND have the fields gradually reduced. For example, round one 144; round #2 100; round #3 75; round #4 top 50.

I don't see how the players are forced to compete. They can always withdraw stating they're 'tired' and no one will ever ask any questions, but I can't help thinking the lure of the almighty dollar will want to make most compete.

It's not like it's The Open after all, you've got that long flight over, usually chilly weather,and there are a couple of lesser tournaments here which you could play in. I mean it only the oldest Major golf championship in the world, what else does it have going for it?

Posted by Ian August 21, 2007 11:06 AM

Pro golfers want to be considered real athletes. Tiger also is the best-conditioned golfer of his generation, or any generation, for that matter. But when he or Phil pull this "tired" routine, they play right into the stereotype that golfers aren't real athletes.
Can't have it both ways Tiger. You're either a real athlete, and you suck it up and play, or you play into the image that golfers are wusses. Sure he's tired. All 144 guys in The Barclays this week are probably tired. But so are all 47 guys on the Steelers or Ravens or Colts or Bears rosters when they're going down the stretch in December for a playoff spot. So is every Major League baseball player in a pennant race right now.
Advice to every professional golfer: grow a pair.

Posted by fhoward August 21, 2007 11:57 AM