- FedExCup Points: 50,000
- Purse: $7.0 million
- Winning Share: $1,260,000
- Yards: 7,547
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
LEMONT, Ill. -- The way Tim Finchem sees it, the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are off to a rousing start.
"Unless I'm way off, if the next two weeks play out as strong as the first two weeks, we've got a very successful Cup," the PGA TOUR Commissioner said Wednesday on the eve of the third Playoff event, the BMW Championship.
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That's not to say, the Playoffs can't be improved, and that's what Finchem, the PGA TOUR Policy Board and the Player Advisory Council will look to do, with input from TOUR members, when the inaugural four-event series has run its course.
"I think it's already a success, but it can be bigger yet," Finchem said.
Finchem also said he has spoken with Phil Mickelson, who took over the lead in the FedExCup with his win Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship but then decided to skip the BMW Championship. He declined to discuss specifics of the private conversation.
The commissioner would only say that he was disappointed with Mickelson's decision. At the same time, he's pleased that Mickelson has said he would be in Atlanta for THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the final Playoff event.
"He's got a 2,500 point lead," Finchem said. "He's going to be in this thing next week under any set of circumstances. I think that'll contribute to an exciting finish, and I'm delighted about that.
"Phil is a major asset to the TOUR. I view him as a personal friend of mine, as well. We don't always agree on things, but it doesn't diminish the positive impact he has for the sport and for the TOUR, and I'm delighted that he's going to be trying to win the Cup next week."
Asked whether the fact that a player like Mickelson, or Woods, who skipped the first Playoff event, could win the FedExCup without playing all four events bothered him, Finchem replied, "Yes and no. First of all, it's part of our sport. These players are not contracted to do anything. It's their call, and I think fans generally recognize that.
"I also think that when the fans look back on this first year of the FedExCup, they're going to think of it as what it was, a multiple number of events, what's my reaction to who won and did they play the best over the four weeks and how exciting were the pieces. I think that's the bulk of it.
"I had some e-mails, even some commentary in the media the last couple days, that not many people remember that Tiger Woods didn't play the first one because of how good last week was. So whether people are going to be upset with Phil for not playing by the time Atlanta is over, it depends on a lot of factors. I think it's about the whole thing and not about any one piece.
"Having said that, obviously, I would like to see all the players play because it just makes it that much stronger."
Finchem said he knows some players have said that playing four tournaments in a row is too much, particularly with the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship in two of the three weeks before the Playoffs start. Not to mention, the Presidents Cup will be held two weeks after they are over.
"Well, here again, that's fair, depending on your point of view about too much," he said. "We have a very high percentage of players playing all four weeks. Some of them are finding that their bodies are having difficulty handling it and having to play around it. That's not unexpected. We always said that stamina was going to be a factor in this time of the year. ...
"And we expected it to be tough. It's Playoffs. That's what Playoffs are."
Several players -- including Woods, Ernie Els and Mickelson -- also have expressed frustration that the $10 million bonus that goes to the FedExCup winner will be deferred. Finchem explained that money still will be deposited into a player's account and will be earning interest tax-free until a player turns 45 or retires, whichever comes first.
Three options were considered -- all cash, deferred payments or a 50-50 split of both.
"And if what players feel about that issue was not properly measured, we should go out and measure it again, because candidly, I certainly don't care, nor does the TOUR care, it's just ... we have a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions that are in the best financial interest of the player," Finchem said, adding that the players determine the vehicles to which the funds will be invested.
The commissioner also addressed comments from several players that they weren't consulted about key decisions as the Playoffs were developed. He cited multiple player meetings called over the last three years to discuss the details of the Cup, as well as information distributed to the players and the input of the Player Advisory Council and the player directors on the Policy Board.
"In hindsight I feel comfortable that we did a good job in reaching out to players on the details," he said. At the same time, Finchem said, he knows some of the players didn't focus on the details as much as others might have. The opportunity will be there, though, to have input when the Playoffs have concluded.
"But the point is right now I think the important thing about the FedExCup and the Playoffs is, is it accomplishing what it was designed to accomplish, not whether we have little details in the structure of it that players didn't focus on or we need to look at going forward," Finchem said.
"And in my view, my strong view, it's accomplishing what it's set out to do, create a better end of the season, create some really powerful events in business markets around the country, get the best players playing, and most importantly, give the fans something that they can enjoy. I believe strongly that's happening over the first two weeks."
