2012 Tour Championship Discussion Thread: PGA Tour Playoffs

[Zeph]

You guys think there’s something wrong about the fact that McIlroy can win two postseason events and a major, run away with Player of the Year honors and still see his $10 million wind up in someone else’s pocket? Any of the four guys immediately behind Rory can swipe the overall title with a victory at East Lake

I've accepted the playoffs for what they are, so no. The best player is whoever gets the PotY award and/or wins the moneylist. The playoffs tell you who played best in the final four tournaments. I would rather give the 10 million to the PotY, but there you are. As far as the playoffs go, I always blank out on who won it last year, which says enough. The guy I remember from last season is Luke, who won both tours.

[Kfredric]

They way the point system for the FedEx Cup is setup for the finals isn't fair, but the PGA wants high ratings. A mix of the controversy we are currently talking about, and any player within the top 5 being able to step up and take the money away from Rory pulls in viewers.

I know I'm watching it each day!

Rory can thank Vijay (2008) for how its all setup now. LOL

[JaxGolfer1]

I can't be the only person that watched the post golf coverage Thursday after the first round of the Tour championship where Brandel Chamblee went on and on about how Sean Foley has the top three ball strikers on the Tour in Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose, am I? It wasn't even 2 months ago when Brandel pounded the table and said, "Tiger needs to fire Sean Foley and call Butch Harmon, today." I don't mind if someone has a strong opinion about something, that's their job, but how can he swing 180 degrees and expect to be taken serious? Either Sean Foley is the down fall of Tiger Woods or he's the teacher with the best ball strikers on the PGA Tour, it's one or the other. I am neither a huge fan of either Tiger Woods OR Sean Foley, but was curious to see if any other sandtrappers call bullsh*t on Brandel Chamblee.

[Deryck Griffith]

As true golf fans, I think we are all very lucky to be seeing all of these top players playing in such a competitive tournament.  The fact that we are this entertained 5 weeks after a major championship speaks volumes to what the FedEx cup has done to the PGA Tour's efforts in getting the best players to fight against each other.  Instead of trying to dissect the point system, we should just sit back and savor the golf and savor the fact that all the big names are still playing good, entertaining golf the 3rd week in September.

[zeg]

Originally Posted by Deryck Griffith

As true golf fans, I think we are all very lucky to be seeing all of these top players playing in such a competitive tournament.  The fact that we are this entertained 5 weeks after a major championship speaks volumes to what the FedEx cup has done to the PGA Tour's efforts in getting the best players to fight against each other.  Instead of trying to dissect the point system, we should just sit back and savor the golf and savor the fact that all the big names are still playing good, entertaining golf the 3rd week in September.

This is the truth. There's no 'fair' or 'unfair' about it. The $10M is a giant carrot to keep the big guys interested in playing out the last few tournaments of the year, nothing more. If it went to PotY, then maybe the handful of guys who are in contention show up.

But even that isn't likely---the whole reason that the PotY is (arguably) still up in the air at all is because this tournament and the FedEx cup are "important." If it were just the last tournament of the year, with a weak field because most of the big guys are on vacation, then even a win probably wouldn't affect the PotY counts very much.

[caniac6]

Mabye Chamblee has started taking lessons from Foley.

[jshots]

Do you think there is anything to be said for Rory gaining a disadvantage by winning the last 2 events? It seems like it could not only put some extra pressure on him, but the odds are certainly against winning 3 in a row.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by jshots

Do you think there is anything to be said for Rory gaining a disadvantage by winning the last 2 events? It seems like it could not only put some extra pressure on him, but the odds are certainly against winning 3 in a row.

That makes no sense.

Like betting on Black because Red has come up the last 4 or 5 times and the "odds" are against it.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by zeg

This is the truth. There's no 'fair' or 'unfair' about it. The $10M is a giant carrot to keep the big guys interested in playing out the last few tournaments of the year, nothing more. If it went to PotY, then maybe the handful of guys who are in contention show up.

But even that isn't likely---the whole reason that the PotY is (arguably) still up in the air at all is because this tournament and the FedEx cup are "important." If it were just the last tournament of the year, with a weak field because most of the big guys are on vacation, then even a win probably wouldn't affect the PotY counts very much.

I think winning the last event (whatever it is called) helped Luke a lot last year...had Web beaten him to take the money title, then there is a good chance he would have gotten PGA Tour player of the year.  On a world-wide basis, Luke still would have been a bit better, but it would have been really close when you are talking PGA only.

With that said, Tiger`s only chance to pass Rory is to win the Fed Ex Cup COMBINED with at least another season ending event or two (assuming he plays in the Fall series).  Next years schedule with the 2013 Fall events counting towards 2014 does a much better job of making the Tour Championship the culmination of the season.

[bplewis24]

No live footage online for this event?  Shot tracker seems to have trouble loading right now.

I didn't even realize tee times changed every day for this event.  Rory is already through 5 and I figured he would still be paired with Woods today.

[MEfree]

With Furyk off to a hot start today (-5 thru 7), 8 of the top 10 are Ryder Cupers with Garrigus and Bo Van Pelt being the only exceptions.  6 for the US vs 2 for Euro as I type this

[jamo]

No live footage online for this event?  Shot tracker seems to have trouble loading right now. I didn't even realize tee times changed every day for this event.  Rory is already through 5 and I figured he would still be paired with Woods today.

I think Live @ is streaming a few holes.

[sixonezero]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

No live footage online for this event?  Shot tracker seems to have trouble loading right now.

I didn't even realize tee times changed every day for this event.  Rory is already through 5 and I figured he would still be paired with Woods today.

Watch live on PGAtour.com

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by jshots

Do you think there is anything to be said for Rory gaining a disadvantage by winning the last 2 events? It seems like it could not only put some extra pressure on him, but the odds are certainly against winning 3 in a row.

Probability not your strong suit?

He has just as much chance of winning this tournament as he does in any other.

His result is determined by what he does this week, not what he did in the last few weeks.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by Shorty

Probability not your strong suit?

He has just as much chance of winning this tournament as he does in any other.

His result is determined by what he does this week, not what he did in the last few weeks.

you might be right, but golfers are not dice...there is a physical and mental aspect and what happened the week before may have an effect.  Being at or near the lead may be mentally draining for some while stimulating for others.

[Dave2512]

Get down Jim and Bubba!

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

Get down Jim and Bubba!

JF really had it going, 64 with bogies on 3 of the last 6 (around 2 more birdies).  Bubba was more steady with a lone bogey at 2.

[phan52]

Just saw something I don't see on the tour very often. Garrigus's caddie was raking the greenside bunker and Z. Johnson's caddie went over and cleaned Garrigus's ball for him.