Ok, so here are some observations from today that I found interesting to say the least.

Phil makes a quip about winning and Tiger getting a 10 million dollar check. He did say, "I'm kidding, i'm kidding." But I think that was the FIGJAM coming out of him.

Then, the interviewer says, "Do you want to win the Fed Ex Cup next year?"

Answer: "Eh, maybe. That's a year away."

OMG! Are you serious, Phil? Yes he's serious.

Do you want to win the Masters? YES

Do you want to win the US OPEN? F YES

Do you want to win the BRITISH OPEN? YES

Do you want to win the PGA? YES

Do you want to win the FED-EX cup and 10 mil? MAYBE. lol

Really, he actually said maybe to winning it next year.

Another notation about the ending with Tiger.

I thought he would at least raise his arms in victory, or at least show some sign of happiness in winning the FED EX CUP. Nothing. That was the unhappiest person to win TEN million dollars in the history of the world.

The system sucks, is it anti climactic, and it was over early, again. It is no coincidence that the system produces boredom.

The system needs to produce tension and excitement and that might happen 2 out of 10 playings of the fed ex cup playoffs. It doesn't work.

It is actually a glorified swing race, like the old west coast swing points races they used to do. And like the Kodak thing they are doing for the Fall Series. It is merely a byproduct of the results from the events. It is not something the pros are really even competing for directly, they are competing indirectly. That will never be exciting.

Phil and Tiger could care less about the fed-ex cup. They want majors....$10 million has no meaning to them.

Hard to get excited about an annuity I guess. It's not like he can run out and pay off one of his mansions tomorrow with the check.

At least the tweaks they made to the system caused the final round to mean something. there was a point today where Stricker was leading the cup. There was also a possibility where Tiger and Stricker could have been in a playoff for the 10 mil. That would have been exciting.

Tiger said he would rather win the tournament.

Another very original post about the FedEx Cup. Yes we know its sucks, Finchem is stupid, its boring, the top players don't care...
I watch golf to watch the best players play...what does it matter who wins the FedEx Cup at least the top players play 4 out of 5 weeks toward the end of the season.

Tiger didn't seem too thrilled about winning the Cup either, I think tiger would have been more excited if he won the tournament. Phil said I shot 65, tiger shot 70 and he won the cup, seems like neither one of them care too much. Maybe they would be more excited if the last tournament was match play for the Fed Ex cup, all in all I would say the format is better this year but still a failure in terms of what they are trying to accomplish. Still Phils game looked great, he is thinking nothing but winning majors next year, as is Tiger

I'm pretty sure Phil was asked if he 'could' win the cup next year and the response was "maybe, thats a year away" I don't think he was asked if he 'wants' to win the cup next year. Do you really think someone would say 'maybe' to ten million dollars.

What to spin quotes and take things out of context.

Wonder if Tiger even bothers to take that chrome plated bed pan home or just leaves it there... Hopefully the Fed cup will die a natural death in a couple more years. No amount of tweaking with the points will ever make it interesting. When the last major is over they should pretty much pack it up and do the silly season for the have nots on the tour. It can't compete with college and pro football so why even try.

That's sad... haha

Anyone hear Johnny gush over Phil at the end and say he would not be surprised if Phil was player of the year next year. I'd place a small wager on that one.

If I was on the PGA tour and had a chance to win the fed-ex cup after 54 holes, I would wear black shoes, brown paints, brown shirt, and a brown hat for the final round.

I'm not buying this either...I think 10 mil means a lot to both of them

I think the biggest thing that takes away the excitement is all the "possible scenarios". I can bet the players have no idea where they stand at any particular time during the round. All the suspense and pressure the announcers are talking about isn't really on the players. I think in the end they are just trying to play the best they can and honestly have no idea where they are in the standings of the Fedex Cup.

I wanna see a seeded match play Tour Championship for the Fedex Cup and the $10,000,000...

I think the most telling post round comment was when Phil thanked Butch Harmon, Dave Stockton, and then oh yea Dave Pelz. I think he started to say Pelz and then corrected himself. To many Dave's I guess. Gotta chuckle out of it. Very happy for Phil though. 2010 could be a very good year for him.

i disagree on the not caring, knowing how competitive these guys are i'm sure they want to win. Tiger wouldn't have played all 4 tournaments if he didn't care. They just pretend not to care with the media to stick it to Finchem. They could organize a table tennis game between Tiger and Phil and both guys would want to beat each other. They may not like the format, but since it exists i'm sure they want to win it

as for the 10 mill, it would probably mean more to someone not already making 40M+/ year. But it's still friggin 10 million dollars.

Well said!

+2 This reply was correct. Some of you guys take things completely out of context. Some guys have a sense of humor and the OP here must have missed it.
Phil grinned and clearly stated he was joking.

When I replay it he clearly thanks all three. This is the internet though and you can give it any twist you like I guess.

I agree that seeded match play is the only way to go. Unfortunately this won't happen because this setup makes it possible for the big names to exit early. Many casual fans won't watch if Tiger or Phil aren't there at the end.

I think Phil is throwing Pelz to the curb. He has said in a number of interviews that Stockton helped him find something in his putting that has been missing for a couple of years. Pelz must be pissing his pants that he got little to no credit for Phil beating Tiger. I would love to listen in on that phone call!! HA HA HA!!! If Pelz doesn't have Phil, he's got no one. Back to NASA!!!

He definately thanked all three. You are correct. It just seemed a little awkward to me.

I agree, even if they both made 100 million per year (which I have heard Tiger does, not sure about Phil) the 10 million payout is a 10% increase. No matter what, that is a significant amount of $ and they are both smart enough business men to realize that all money in is important.

I think they care about the money... but they want to win more than anything else. If you told them it was 10 mil for second and a happy meal for first, they'd take the happy meal. That's why the top players are the top players.

Of course, the 10 mil would have a lot more impact if they actually got a check for 10 million at the award ceremony...

Why would you want it to die when it is bringing the top players in the world together for four tournaments at the end of the year when everything used to be over after the PGA? Of course there are still some issues with the point system and probably always will be as long as they keep it a stroke play event, but it was a lot better this year than the last two and absolutely provided some decent drama a few different times today - especially when the possibility of Tiger and Stricks in a playoff were there.

Whatever the format of play, whatever shortcomings there are, I just enjoyed another weekend of great golf on the tube, period. And for that, I am thankful for players like Kenny P, Phil M, Tiger W and Sean OH.

it seems people want a magical points system that lets evryone have a chance at winning, but also rewards good play throughout the season even though 1 guy is playing so much better than everyone else.

tiger is the reason the fedex cup doesnt work but he is probably the reason it exists in the first place.

If you do the math, you'll see that Phil won about $4.300.000 in combined prize money this week.

I think he cared about the money.

Once you get to the "playoffs" that "rewards good play throughout the season" crap is out the window.

The Yankees are the best team in baseball this year with 100+ wins and home field advantage. When they face off in the ALDS, they don't start game 1 up 3-0. They can still be beaten in the 1st round and be 1 and done (if there's a God). To win the world series, they have to.....WIN the World Series. What they did in the regular season doesn't matter.

If Finchem wants a playoff, he needs to realize what playoffs really are. This is more like the BCS system with a contrived Championship event that you don't even have to win to be the "champion" (or at least co-champion...since the coaches have to vote in line with the BCS title game).

This whole thing is a joke.

-mini

It's certainly not a playoff, it's a points race. A true playoff would run the risk of some big name players not making it to the Tour Champ. The tour will never take that risk.

+1 . Couldnt have said it more presice myself.

+1 for match play. If it's a big deal (and it is) to keep some of the top seeds in it late, give them bi's. The top seeds would be up against the lower seeds anyway.

I don't like how the cup goes from an overall points race to a five person/one weekend tournament. Just doesn't seem right or consistent.

Match play is far more exciting. How about the entire playoff series is match play, 4 weeks of it. I'd take vacation to watch all of it!

The baseball playoffs are over several games, with the best years record
getting home field advantage, its not a crap shoot like an 18 hole
match in golf. Match play - not a good idea.

I was really kind of shocked that he said, maybe, but really, I'd rather have a major or two if I were him

They changed that for this year...it was straight up $10M...no annuity anymore.

Are you for sure on this? I thought I heard them even say, "a $10M annuity," yesterday. Maybe I misunderstood.

+1

I could care less how the points add up or fall or whatever. All I know is I saw the top players in the world ALL play in the last 4 tournaments. Yeah that happens like... umm.. oh yeah never. The Fed Ex cup is a HUGE success for that reason alone... and that's the reason the whole damn thing was designed anyway.

I was glad to see real tournament. It sucks the #2 payer in the world couldn't win the cup by winning the tourney, but he did whip butt on Sat and SUnday. I think Tiger was pissed he didn't win, and Phil did. Perry folded as expected, and Phil is playing great.

If Phil keeps putting well, he's a monster off the tee, and way long enough with his irons to give Tiger a run.

Hope they both play great next year and we get to see several head to head battles.

+1

Either that or the week after. Doesnt matter if Tiger and Phil win it or not, just the fact that it would have some finallity and actual system to it would be more entertaining. Plus the players then know what they are playing for.

The FedEx cup is doing it's job. It gets top tier talent to play a few more tournaments at the end of the year. That lines the pockets of the tour, sponsors, TV contracts, etc. Everyone talks about the cup, but it kind of falls to the no publicity is bad publicity thing. It would be great if it were perfect, but would more people really watch?

Well, I hope he didn't spend all in one place then. Me, I could very excited about a $10 million annuity.

That is very funny and a great idea.

I don't care who win's the fedex cup each year. I just care that it gets all the top players to play in every tournament in September.

that IMO is a success.

if Tiger and Phil didn't care about the series then why would they both have played all those weeks in a row?