Golf

Race to FedExCup playoff going down to the wire

LexisNexis Feed USATODAY
Share This Story

Updated Jul 22, 2009 11:30 PM ET
     
 
The FedExCup is entering the homestretch of its third year and third version. Only six tournaments remain before the four-tournament playoff begins. The PGA Tour might have it right this time, but the answer won't come until the Tour Championship is completed Sept. 27. Steve Stricker, who won the first FedExCup playoff event in 2007, has moved to No. 1 in the standings, giving the cup a new leader for the fifth time in six weeks. "It's going to be better," Stricker said Tuesday. "The first year we didn't see much movement. Last year we had too much. It seems like we've reached a happy medium." In '07 Tiger Woods earned the Cup by winning two of the playoff events. Last year, Vijay Singh won the same way. Both Woods and Singh had all but clinched the Cup before the Tour Championship. This year all 30 players who make the Tour Championship have a mathematical chance to win, but the top five have an advantage because of the reset of the points after the first three playoff events. If any of the players in the top five win the season finale, he will claim the FedExCup. "You still have to play well all year to get in it," Stricker said, "but the top five can control their destiny. It's like having a home-field advantage in a team sport." Singh said Tuesday this year's format is good, but he added, "It's a little unfair to the person who plays well in the first three events and then doesn't win the Cup." The top five this week are Stricker, Tiger Woods, Kenny Perry, Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Because of family illness Perry won't play this week or next, where he is the defending champion in the Buick Open. He could fall in the standings. Mickelson hasn't played since the U.S. Open while his wife Amy is being treated for breast cancer. The next big moves should come in consecutive weeks in August at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, both of which offer more points than a regular tournament. "I don't think about it, and players don't talk about it until it starts," Singh said of the playoff. Stricker expects the new system to be more exciting for the fans. "We'll be excited as well," he added. "But there will be more pressure for us, too." Stricker said any system would work if a golfer played well throughout the season. "If you play well," he said, "you'll be rewarded with a lot of points, and that will take care of the playoff."
Tagged: Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson

Related Stories

World Golf Tour


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

GOLF Videos

Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Tiger Woods talks about the new 'legacy mode' in Tiger Woods 13.

Keeping up with Kuchar Posted: Jan 18, 2012
FOXSports.com talks with PGA Tour golfer Matt Kuchar.

Golfers hit up Vegas Posted: Dec 15, 2011
Phil Mickelson and Alvaro Quiros pull off golf shots at some Las Vegas hot spots...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/124407/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_124000/FF_124407_xl.jpg&w=100 259.95 Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Baske..
    adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Milwaukee_Bucks/browse/featuredproduct/141061/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_141000/FF_141061_xl.jpg&w=100 29.99 adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey
    adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/172441/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172441_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/173567/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173567_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/178055/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178055_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/179331/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_179000/DS_179331_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/182418/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_182000/FF_182418_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey
    adidas Denver Nuggets Light Blue Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Nuggets/browse/featuredproduct/188059/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_188000/DS_188059_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Denver Nuggets Light Blue Primary Logo T-shirt