Amidst all of the controversy and confusion surrounding the initiation of the playoffs, the world number one opting out of the first event of the playoffs, the FedEx Cup is starting this week.
The first tournament site is Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, and they will play host to The Barclays. At 6,839 yards and par 71, Westchester is one of the shortest courses on the 2007 PGA tour. Despite its lack of length, Westchester is a fantastic challenge and one of the favorite stops on the tour.
Tiger Woods recently withdrew from the first of four events in the FedEx Cup citing exhaustion, "My body is spent and I need a short break, major championships are grueling experiences and usually necessitate recovery time." This is a major blow to the inaugural event designed to spice up the end of the golf season for the PGA Tour, but Tiger Woods is still dedicated to the FedEx Cup and the remainder of the playoffs. "This is in no way a knock on Barclays, their new event or the new FedExCup series, which I fully support”, said Woods. “I just hope this extra week of rest will rejuvenate me for the final three Playoff events and The Presidents Cup.” Ty Votaw, the PGA Tour’s executive vice president for Communications and International Affairs said in support of Woods, "We’re disappointed that Tiger will not be playing The Barclays next week, it’s clear from Tiger’s statement he remains focused on winning the FedEx Cup. Whether he can do it will be one of the many exciting things our fans will be following over the next four weeks." This is just another twist and turn that will continue to unfold in this interesting and compelling year end event.
With Woods withdrawal from this event, the top prize is now up for grabs. Many of the top players will now have a great chance to capture this inaugural event. Look for players like Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh to step up and possibly take a lead in the playoffs. Vijay could potentially have the best chance entering in as the number two seed, defending champion at The Barclay’s, and winning on three of the four host sites. Adam Scott who is in 10th place entering the playoffs has won at two of the four sites. Also keep a look out for the latest winner on the tour Brandt Snedeker, who has called the four week playoff a “four-week lottery ticket”. There have been many computer models generated and most say that you need to be in the top 30 or top 15 to have a chance to win the playoffs, but only time will confirm if that turns out to be the case.
That may be the most intriguing element of the playoffs, the uncertainty. The PGA Tour has never done something like this and it will be interesting for the fans, as well as interesting and frustrating for the players. "I think it’s a great thing," said Vijay Singh, "You know, it’s warming up to a big finale and that’s what Tim Finchem wanted, that’s what the Tour wants, that’s what the sponsors want, obviously. I think once you start off with the last four events, it’s going to heat up I think to a great finale." It is not often you get to witness something that is new, fresh, and exciting, but over the next four weeks, starting this week at The Barclay’s, you now have that opportunity.
This week’s field will be 144 players, who have qualified through a year long point’s race. At the conclusion of this week’s event, 50,000 points will be distributed and the number of players will be shortened to 120 for the Deutsche Bank Championship, then distributing another 50,000 points and cutting to 70 for the BMW Championship, and then distributing another 50,000 points and setting the field at 30 for the Tour Championship, where there will be a total of $35 million dollars in bonus money up for grabs. This week’s purse is $7 million dollars, with the winner receiving $1.26 million.
Television Times
Thursday 8/23 3-6 PM Golf Channel
Friday 8/24 3-6 PM Golf Channel
Saturday 8/25 3-6 PM CBS
Sunday 8/26 3-6 PM CBS
Tournament Website
www.pgatour.com/playoffs/tournaments
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