It's "Fix the FedEx Cup" season: Editors' Blog: Golf Digest

It's "Fix the FedEx Cup" season

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Comments

John Feinstein's column on the FedEx Cup has drawn several letters of response. To say Feinstein was critical of the playoff system is an understatement. He decried the fact that comparatively few points are awarded for major victories (2400 for all four vs. 2500 for winning the Barclays) and argued that the Tour Championship should decide the winner:

Let's do this: Make the playoffs resemble the postseasons in other sports. Everyone starts at zero. If you are worried that the "regular season" will be meaningless, have a regular season bonus pool for the top 10 or top 20 players. That would be the equivalent of home field advantage in team sports (and would make the players happy since, let's face it, the only reason they care about the playoffs is the huge money involved).

Golf World readers who wrote to us tended to agree.

John Feinstein is right on regarding the FedEx point distribution and end-of-year playoffs, his Mickelson example being the most obvious. So that the season does count, I suggest 1,500 points for majors, 750 for the Players, keep 500 for tournament winners and all of the above keep those points to start the playoff season. They have won a major or a tournament and deserve to have a leg up on the field. Then have the first three playoff events be worth 1,000 points and the Tour Championship 1,250 points. Nothing should top the majors.

Robert L. Cooney, Vero Beach, FL

Without such a system, argues another reader, the final event lacks drama and loses out to its major rival, college football.

My golf group, which number 32 members, completely supports John's comments: Use FedEx points to get to the top 120, then use the rest of the tournaments to set the top 30 [for the Tour Championship]. Everyone begins at zero; more what we want--a real challenge, better TV. We probably won't watch this year's. Come on Charley Hoffman and Matt Kuchar? Texas/UCLA looks better and so does Alabama/Arkansas.

Craig Gillespey, Richardson, TX

Not sure, Craig, if you're suggesting that the Tour Championship 30 begin again at zero. We like Feinstein's system, but it's not foolproof. Some readers and members of the media will not be happy if the playoffs don't produce a winner who has also won a major. Feinstein's okay with that happening, once you give those major winners sufficient credit (prior to the playoffs), for what they've accomplished. So are we.

Here's a breakdown of where the playoffs stand entering tomorrow's tour championship.

Bob Carney