Weighting of FedEx Cup tournaments?

[juanrjackson]

All,

I understand that the PGA is trying to build suspense into the final event & this year it turned ideal with Phil, Tiger, Steve Stricker, and kenny Perry all in the running for the FedEx Cup on the back nine.

But I think there should be a rule that says if you do not have a previous tour win you cannot win the FedEx Cup.

I mean if Marc Leishman, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, or Mike Weir won the Tour Championship & the leaders had a bad week they could have won the FedEx Cup.

Anyone else think the Tour Championship is weighted too heavy in FedEx Cup points?

[bsettle]

The FedEx Cup does not reward the person that wins the most, the money list and exemptions take care of that, but the most consistent player. If you play consistent throughout the season, you make the playoffs. Then once in the playoffs if you continue to finish high then you will have a chance @ the Cup and that is the idea.

[Trav]

The FedEx Cup does not reward the person that wins the most, the money list and exemptions take care of that, but the most consistent player. If you play consistent throughout the season, you make the playoffs. Then once in the playoffs if you continue to finish high then you will have a chance @ the Cup and that is the idea.

I have little sense of excitement about the 4 Fedex events right now. I know everyone has their own view of what this should be, but it seems to me they have to decide if this is supposed to be a year-long contest (i.e., reward consistency) or a championship like other pro sports where you have to keep winning to win the whole thing once you get in. To me, each of the 4 events is just another tour event but with a progressively smaller field and it's neither fish nor fowl.

I would find it more interesting if (similar in overall concept to what you suggest): (1) they weighted the various season-long tour events for Fedex points (i.e., US Open counts for more than Joe's Gas and BBQ Classic) based on some factor reflecting difficulty, such as an index of field quality and size; (2) select the initial Fedex field based on season-long points to date, as now done; (3) treat each Fedex event as a separate elimination round, either starting from scratch (preferable, to me) or with discounted value for carryover season-long points, so there is real interest in people who manage to stay alive at each round (like NCAA Bball championship, "survive and advance," so there is more competition in the final event; (4) If they want a season-long points championship, then make a separate award for that from the Fedex Trophy, because a person who fails to make the Fedex field can't win it right now, and if the objective is to have a true season-long championship, then it should cover the entire season, not just events January through August - some people get hot at year-end; some choose not to play the later events.

[NormH3]

Having just started playing and watching again, I really don't care for this FedEX cup thing. Nothing against NASCAR, but let's leave this kind of stuff to them.
It bothered me that the TV announcer made the comment that Phil won the championship, but Tiger won the more important title. Not the exact words, but very close. Just not right...in my opinion.

[daveg]

Having just started playing and watching again, I really don't care for this FedEX cup thing. Nothing against NASCAR, but let's leave this kind of stuff to them.

I agree with NormH3 and to add my own opinion of the Fed-X and I realize it was designed to add some spark/interest after all the majors are finished for the season.

Heard too much of (in my twisted thinking) --- if Tiger comes in at a tie for third or worse and Stricker eats a hot dog for lunch, Phil has a chance. If Steve has a ham sandwich, then everything changes. And save the (too many) points for the other sports.

[bsettle]

I have little sense of excitement about the 4 Fedex events right now. I know everyone has their own view of what this should be, but it seems to me they have to decide if this is supposed to be a year-long contest (i.e., reward consistency) or a championship like other pro sports where you have to keep winning to win the whole thing once you get in. To me, each of the 4 events is just another tour event but with a progressively smaller field and it's neither fish nor fowl.

First of all, it COULD always be better AND someone is ALWAYS going to get screwed or feel like they did. The only way to keep the latter from happening is if someone wins all the playoff events! On your first point, events do have different points weighting. To use your example the U.S. Open does count more than the.... John Deere, for example. On your fourth point, that some people just get hot at years end, that is the same for EVERY sport. Look at the MOST successful playoff system we have, March Madness. You could have a horrible season, get hot in the conference playoff, win that and get in to the field of 65, and stay hot and win the whole thing. I agree that there should be some type of trophy for the season long champion, before the playoffs, that is a GREAT idea.

[mcfc_nick]

i think the leader after the regular season should have a big advantage in the playoffs somehow! they do it in rugby league over here, Leeds Rhinos won the super league (rugby league) over here this year, they get a league leaders shield, then theres an 8 team playoff for the winner of super league but they get to play at home vs the team who finished 8th, then if they get through (like they did) they got to chose their opponents for the next round (they chose catalans) and get to play at home again after having a week off, so have the odds stacked in their favour which is what the fedex cup leader should have after the regular season somehow!

[pittpanther]

I agree that there should be some type of trophy for the season long champion, before the playoffs, that is a GREAT idea.

I imagine last year's Tennessee Titans agree with you!

(finished the regular season with the best record, but got booted out of the playoffs after the first game)

[FHopper]

The reset ruined it. It made for an exciting four tournament series but it should not have been part of the FedEx cup standings. All season long they run commercials about how consistent play all year would net the cup, then they throw an over weighted final four series plus a screwball reset in and negate their claimed purpose. Fortunately the right guy won.