Will the Tour Championship ever take over majors as the biggest event in golf?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by jshots

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Test of the best golfers for an entire year? No, this certainly does not describe either the majors or the FedEx Cup. A player could win zero events in the FedEx Cup playoffs, including not winning the Coca-Cola Tour Championship, and be the FedEx Cup Champion. That right there is lame enough that it will never supplant any majors in importance. The simple fact the Majors don't need title sponsors illustrates how huge they are.

Well maybe there should be more changes to the way the FedEx Cup works, but like I said, it would be more like the World Series of golf. The best player might not always win (the one that played the absolute best all year long), but most of the time they will, or should, as with the championship in any sport. It may not be the very best test of the best golfer for the year, but it is certainly moreso than any of the majors, and it has more the form of an end of the season championship like other sports.

Maybe it is more like a league championship than the Majors, but it could easily be argued that in most international sports, league championships are not even close to being the most prestigious events. They keep rejigging the format FedEx to make the final event mean something. To me, as a fan, it does not mean anything. I don't care which multi-millionaire wins the $10 million. I do care who wins the majors, except for the PGA because I'm usually getting sick of golf by then - another reason to not care about the FedEx - football is well under way.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by jshots

Tradition for the sake of tradition... always a bad argument.

But it's not the argument. It's the reason. It's nothing to do with opinion.

It's the reason why tournaments named after a shipping company will not ever be at the top of the list.

How many people take LPGA majors seriously when they are named after shopping malls or whatever they are.

[jshots]

Originally Posted by Shorty

But it's not the argument. It's the reason. It's nothing to do with opinion.

It's the reason why tournaments named after a shipping company will not ever be at the top of the list.

How many people take LPGA majors seriously when they are named after shopping malls or whatever they are.

I don't know, I don't think that is the reason that no one watches LPGA majors. How bout college football, all of their big games are sponsored and it doesn't matter. I do agree that it sucks but it shouldn't be the reason we don't have one big end of the year golf event.

Football is a major problem too I suppose, no one gives a **** about golf when football starts.

[KrazyTrain18]

No, but it is a big US tournament.

[StealthTrader]

I believe that someone has already said it.  The FedEx Cup, is a great Season Ending Schedule Concept.

It is awesome for the fans.  They get one more shot at seeing many of the best players in the world, tee it up for several weeks at the end of a very long season for most of those guys, where the competition is still individual player against individual player.  It is not a true "Play-Off Format" but it is probably the closest thing that you can get given the fact that it is not a team event, where you have only two entities competing over a series of events.  When you have that many players competing at once, there has to be scoring sub-component added to the "play-off" like arrangement.  It is as fair as they can make it.

Will it, or should it overtake any Major Championship?  Of course, not.

The four (4) Majors are one of the most unique rationing of Championship events in professional sports.  They are laid down throughout the middle of the regular season and strategically positioned to test each player while they are still fresh enough to give the tournament their all, both physically and mentally.  And, at this stage in the life of professional golf, one has a hard time arguing that four (4) majors have not already earned their right as the most proper platforms for raising the winner to prominence and notoriety.

When you go inside the tour and you talk to the players, each of them to a man will tell you that the most significant thing they could do in any given season, is to become a Major Champion.  If you ask then what would be the second most significant thing they could ever do in a single year, each one to a man would tell you that becoming a multiple Major Champion ranks as number two on the list.  If you were to ask them for number three on their list, they would tell you that winning the third Major Championship would be their dream.  Of course, if you push the question even further, each of them, without question or hesitation, would tell you that their ultimate dream of all dreams, would be to win the Grand Slam of Professional Golf, at four (4) Major Championships for the year.

Which brings you to the obvious question.  If you asked each player on tour, whether they would rather win a Major Championship, or the FedEx Cup, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that not one PGA Tour Player would suggest that winning just one Major, would be less desirable than all the money that comes from winning the Cup - in any given year.

There is too much water under the bridge at this point in the history of Golf, to supplant any of the Major Championships with any season ending Grand Finale Cup Series.  Having said that, if the FedEx Cup continues to have Leaderboards that look they way this years series does, it will continue to grow as a "Major" like favorite with the fans.  You can't continue to stack the World's Number #1, #2, #3 and #4 together like that without drawing some attention nationwide.  So, it is very good for doing that.

However, actually being significant enough to replace a Major Championship?  Not even close.  Even the Players Championship is deemed more significant to the players, than the Cup.  The Cup is huge purse and because of the scoring it will often times pull the best players.  But, even the Players Championship carries more momentum and weight in the minds of the players, and it is not even a Major event!

So, while I do wish the Cup all the best for becoming as significant as a Major, it has a very, very, very long way to go before that ever happens - both in the minds of the Fans and the Players.

Again, the FedEx Cup is a great "Finishing Hole" to the season - before the "All-Star" event takes place with the Ryder Cup.

[vanpooten]

I don't think anyone is really answering OP's original question. He's asking if it ever will surpass the majors. We have to look into the future, at a point where tradition alone doesn't automatically make the majors the outright winner. Of course at this very moment, every player would take a major first; of course at this moment the FedEx Cup is just a made for money event. But that's not to say in the future it can't become more prominent.

The fields have been just as deep at these events as any major. Participation in any of the playoff events requires a solid season. Forget about the name of the event, or it's age; just compare the difficulty of winning the FedEx Cup to a major. I would put them at a similar level. Why can't an event that draws such top players and has such a huge purse not eventually be considered something better than a major. Already now you see European players joining the PGA tour to try their hand at the FedEx Cup. It's no less global than any major. If the Cup stays around long enough and gains the same staying power as majors I see no reason why it couldn't surpass them as the biggest event in golf.

To OP, I thought about creating this exact thread, and imagined I would be as you have been. Sorry for trying to stir up some discussion!

[LuciusWooding]

Even the Ryder Cup is way more prestigious than the Fedex cup. For good reason, too. Make the fedex cup a match play tournament with some actual seeding and maybe byes so the points are meaningful, and it suddenly might seem like an actual playoff. Also it's PGA tour only, with no Euro Tour players which is to its discredit.

The Ryder Cup is also a hell of a lot more entertaining because it's more competitive despite not paying 10 million to the winner. The reason? Tradition. Shorty's right. I agree that tradition isn't a good reason on its own, but it's not the only reason.

A Ryder Cup is an opportunity to see a new course, new players (we don't see enough euro tour players over here), and totally different format. Not to mention legends have been born and players have made thousands of fans for their performances in the matches; players who never won majors are still heroes today because of their play such as Montgomerie. If you were someone like Brandt Snedeker; with no big credentials in terms of important wins, you could make a name for yourself by winning a dramatic match. Making a name for yourself in the tour championship would involve either a couple wins or a bunch of top 10s just to get in, and at that point winning isn't needed to establish yourself anymore.

Or a Tiger v Rory matchup where they're actually head to head, forcing Tiger to stop playing like a wuss. Can't have that in the Fedex Cup where they're not really competing. Tiger wouldn't be so carefree if he gave a flying flop about the prize. Rory hasn't gotten sick of winning yet, but Tiger really doesn't have a whole lot of respect for the playoffs, I think. He just wants to win majors and it shows; if majors are the only place to see the best players and Tiger actually try, why watch the other stuff?

That's why it's such a great event. All the majors have the same potential; the possibility for greatness even if you aren't world #1. The Fedex cup points system is great for identifying consistent good play, but I'd rather see the underdog who struggled to qualify manage to make the cut, or an average pro have the tournament of his life. He could never even get into the tour championship. Having such a small field and such a forgettable prize for victory makes the competition much less interesting.

[jshots]

Originally Posted by vanpooten

I don't think anyone is really answering OP's original question. He's asking if it ever will surpass the majors. We have to look into the future, at a point where tradition alone doesn't automatically make the majors the outright winner. Of course at this very moment, every player would take a major first; of course at this moment the FedEx Cup is just a made for money event. But that's not to say in the future it can't become more prominent.

The fields have been just as deep at these events as any major. Participation in any of the playoff events requires a solid season. Forget about the name of the event, or it's age; just compare the difficulty of winning the FedEx Cup to a major. I would put them at a similar level. Why can't an event that draws such top players and has such a huge purse not eventually be considered something better than a major. Already now you see European players joining the PGA tour to try their hand at the FedEx Cup. It's no less global than any major. If the Cup stays around long enough and gains the same staying power as majors I see no reason why it couldn't surpass them as the biggest event in golf.

To OP, I thought about creating this exact thread, and imagined I would be as you have been. Sorry for trying to stir up some discussion!

Nice post! There are obviously a lot of reasons that it might not ever be anywhere near the level of a Major, but it definitely has some good things going. There are definitely a few people that aren't answering my question correctly. After long enough it might not be seen as the stupid end of the year TV money maker and in 100 years could be seen as tradition just as the majors. It is set up so that it should have one of the best fields of the year, and it is unique in that it places ONE player above the rest at the end of the season instead of on par with 3 others.

I never feel sorry for asking a good question haha, just because the majority doesn't agree doesn't mean that they are correct!

[MEfree]

Currently the TC/Fed Ex Cup is not on the same level as a major, but it is not certain that this will always be the case for the following reasons:

1. $10 Million - these are pros, so money does mean something.  For a new event, this already means a lot to the players and could continue to grow over time.  Do you think Rory or Lee would bother being PGA Tour members if there was no Fed Ex Cup and the Euro Tour had more $?  Also, if you were married to Rich Beem or Shaun Micheel, would you rather they win the PGA or the TC/Fed Ex Cup?  Both of these guys have career PGA Tour earnings under $10 M, so it might be a tempting trade.

2.  As of next year, it will be a season ending playoff/event.  Everyone remembers who won the Superbowl.  When the Patriots were undefeated in the regular season, it was not satisfying for them when they lost the Super Bowl.  If the schedule were further tweaked so the playoffs ended just before football began, then more eyes would be focused on it.

3.  It is a culmination of more than just 4 days of golf.  Everyone who makes the final 30 has had a pretty good season and most years will not see a guy like Bill Haas come from outside the top 20 and win.  Only 7 guys in the TC this year have not won at least once this season on the PGA Tour- Oosthuizen, Westwood, Furyk, Van Pelt, Garrigus, Adam Scott, Ryan Moore and John Senden.  Former US Am Champ Moore is the only one outside the OWGR Top 50 at #64.

4.  While the current format has improved a lot from the initial (and stability is good for fan understanding) it may be tweaked in the future to optimize it.

5.  The recent leader boards have been better than most majors.  A fluke, maybe, but if that continues, then the prestige of the playoffs will grow over time.  When the event is more exclusive, it is more likely that a recognizable name wins it.  That is why many prefer the Masters to the PGA and is why there should be no complete unknowns winning the TC.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by jshots

Nice post! There are obviously a lot of reasons that it might not ever be anywhere near the level of a Major, but it definitely has some good things going. There are definitely a few people that aren't answering my question correctly. After long enough it might not be seen as the stupid end of the year TV money maker and in 100 years could be seen as tradition just as the majors. It is set up so that it should have one of the best fields of the year, and it is unique in that it places ONE player above the rest at the end of the season instead of on par with 3 others.

I never feel sorry for asking a good question haha, just because the majority doesn't agree doesn't mean that they are correct!

You posted while I was writing above...fully agree with you, including your last statement.

[jshots]

Originally Posted by MEfree

Currently the TC/Fed Ex Cup is not on the same level as a major, but it is not certain that this will always be the case for the following reasons:

1.  $10 Million- these are pros, so money does mean something.  For a new event, this already means a lot to the players and could continue to grow over time.  Do you think Rory or Lee would bother being PGA Tour members if there was no Fed Ex Cup and the Euro Tour had more $?  Also, if you were married to Rich Beem or Shaun Micheel, would you rather they win the PGA or the TC/Fed Ex Cup?  Both of these guys have career PGA Tour earnings under $10 M, so it might be a tempting trade.

2.  As of next year, it will be a season ending playoff/event.  Everyone remembers who won the Superbowl.  When the Patriots were undefeated in the regular season, it was not satisfying for them when they lost the Super Bowl.  If the schedule were further tweaked so the playoffs ended just before football began, then more eyes would be focused on it.

3.  It is a culmination of more than just 4 days of golf.  Everyone who makes the final 30 has had a pretty good season and most years will not see a guy like Bill Haas come from outside the top 20 and win.  Only 7 guys in the TC this year have not won at least once this season on the PGA Tour- Oosthuizen, Westwood, Furyk, Van Pelt, Garrigus, Adam Scott, Ryan Moore and John Senden.  Former US Am Champ Moore is the only one outside the OWGR Top 50 at #64.

4.  While the current format has improved a lot from the initial (and stability is good for fan understanding) it may be tweaked in the future to optimize it.

5.  The recent leader boards have been better than most majors.  A fluke, maybe, but if that continues, then the prestige of the playoffs will grow over time.  When the event is more exclusive, it is more likely that a recognizable name wins it.  That is why many prefer the Masters to the PGA and is why there should be no complete unknowns winning the TC.

Originally Posted by MEfree

You posted while I was writing above...fully agree with you, including your last statement.

All good thoughts. The prestige will definitely grow with big names going head to head for several weeks in a row like this. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed the last few weeks of golf, for me it has been more fun to watch than a major, and that is what prompted me to make this post.

[Royal]

Quote:

I don't think anyone is really answering OP's original question. He's asking if it ever will surpass the majors. We have to look into the future, at a point where tradition alone doesn't automatically make the majors the outright winner. Of course at this very moment, every player would take a major first; of course at this moment the FedEx Cup is just a made for money event. But that's not to say in the future it can't become more prominent.

The fields have been just as deep at these events as any major. Participation in any of the playoff events requires a solid season. Forget about the name of the event, or it's age; just compare the difficulty of winning the FedEx Cup to a major. I would put them at a similar level. Why can't an event that draws such top players and has such a huge purse not eventually be considered something better than a major. Already now you see European players joining the PGA tour to try their hand at the FedEx Cup. It's no less global than any major. If the Cup stays around long enough and gains the same staying power as majors I see no reason why it couldn't surpass them as the biggest event in golf.

To OP, I thought about creating this exact thread, and imagined I would be as you have been. Sorry for trying to stir up some discussion!

^ this

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by jshots

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanpooten

I don't think anyone is really answering OP's original question. He's asking if it ever will surpass the majors. We have to look into the future, at a point where tradition alone doesn't automatically make the majors the outright winner. Of course at this very moment, every player would take a major first; of course at this moment the FedEx Cup is just a made for money event. But that's not to say in the future it can't become more prominent.

The fields have been just as deep at these events as any major. Participation in any of the playoff events requires a solid season. Forget about the name of the event, or it's age; just compare the difficulty of winning the FedEx Cup to a major. I would put them at a similar level. Why can't an event that draws such top players and has such a huge purse not eventually be considered something better than a major. Already now you see European players joining the PGA tour to try their hand at the FedEx Cup. It's no less global than any major. If the Cup stays around long enough and gains the same staying power as majors I see no reason why it couldn't surpass them as the biggest event in golf.

To OP, I thought about creating this exact thread, and imagined I would be as you have been. Sorry for trying to stir up some discussion!

Nice post! There are obviously a lot of reasons that it might not ever be anywhere near the level of a Major, but it definitely has some good things going. There are definitely a few people that aren't answering my question correctly. After long enough it might not be seen as the stupid end of the year TV money maker and in 100 years could be seen as tradition just as the majors. It is set up so that it should have one of the best fields of the year, and it is unique in that it places ONE player above the rest at the end of the season instead of on par with 3 others.

I never feel sorry for asking a good question haha, just because the majority doesn't agree doesn't mean that they are correct!

Nobody can predict with 100% certainty that in 100 years there will even be a PGA Tour so to discuss in a serious manner which championships will or won't be important to golfers - players and fans - in a century is nonsense.

[NuclearMike]

Never gonna happen.  The tournaments with history behind them will always take precedence in my book.

Happy 83rd Birthday to Arnold Palmer.

[vanpooten]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Nobody can predict with 100% certainty that in 100 years there will even be a PGA Tour so to discuss in a serious manner which championships will or won't be important to golfers - players and fans - in a century is nonsense.

Of course we have to put everything in a frame of reference, which we haven't done for this discussion yet. It's not nonsense, just speculation. Everyone loves to speculate about the future, or else the tv pundits would never have anything to talk about. You're right, there's no way we can predict what will happen. But that doesn't mean we can't use the information available to us now to draw conclusions about what will happen in the future.

To think, almost 50 years ago the Superbowl was a brand new concept, I'm sure people were wondering if it had legitimacy back then. Now it's the greatest spectacle in football. I think the FedEx Cup has at least given itself a good start with its elite level of competition and prize money.

[vanpooten]

Hell the majors only really gained precedence in the 1960's by the word of Arnold Palmer. Then the media really latched onto that. Yes the tournaments themselves are ancient, but the four of them becoming the pinnacle of golf and the standard by which all golfers are compared is a more recent development (relative to the creation of these tournaments).

[lville lefty]

In time, and assuming the prize money continues, a FED EX Cup win will be a considered a "major" on a player's resume.  For all of you that are traditionalists and think not consider the history of the so-called majors.  It has been correctly pointed out the first Open Championship was in 1860.  The first Masters was not until 1934.  It was not until 1960 when Arnold Palmer discussed the idea of a "grand slam" that the term "major" was relevant.  100 years after the first Open.

The prize money available for the playoffs is incredible when you consider the player that finishes last at East Lake will earn $303,000  ($128,000 for the tournament and $175,000 for Fed Ex points).  That is serious money. So while some of you may think it blasphemy to consider the FED Ex Cup a major, I have a strong the suspicion the players think otherwise.

[jgreen85]

I tend to think the fed ex cup will rival the majors. It's much more exciting in my opinion. The fields are smaller, so you're always watching your favorite players rather than getting to see two or three in the morning, and then two or three in the afternoon. The majors are all day events, while the playoffs (the later rounds anyway) are a few hours (like football/basketball/soccer games).

Traditionalists are dominating the first page. Certainly, there's work to be done on the FEC regarding the international participation. Perhaps a similar format could end the Euro season, and after the FEC, you take the top 15 from each tour, and have a tournament (stroke or matchplay) to determine the world champion of golf?