Jul. 22, 2008
When it comes to the FedExCup, the players on the PGA TOUR understand one important thing -- finishing the regular season in the top 30 in points is the best way to position themselves for the Playoffs and the $10 million first prize that awaits the champion.
Last year, going into the final event of the Playoffs -- THE TOUR Championship -- six players had a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup. All six were top 30 seeds entering the Playoffs.
Even with the revised point system that is in effect for this season, 12 players -- all top 30 seeds -- would have had a mathematical chance to win the Cup that was eventually claimed by Tiger Woods last year.
Meanwhile, no top 30 seed who made the cut in the first two Playoff events missed THE TOUR Championship, which is limited to 30 players.
Thus, the importance of being in the top 30 cannot be overstated. Here's how it breaks down for those players participating in this week's RBC Canadian Open. (For more on the FedExCup, click here. For current FedExCup standings, click here.)
| Currently in the top 30 |
| Anthony Kim |
5 |
14,272 |
| Jim Furyk |
13 |
8,663 |
| Jeff Quinney |
21 |
7,277 |
| Sean O'Hair |
24 |
6,849 |
| Stephen Ames |
25 |
6,845 |
|
| Can move into the top 30 with... |
| A top-10 finish (current rank) |
| Brian Gay (31) |
Steve Lowery (33) |
Jerry Kelly (35)
|
| Briny Baird (36) |
|
|
| A top-3 finish |
| Kevin Sutherland (45) |
Pat Perez (47) |
Mike Weir (49) |
| Steve Marino (51) |
Camilo Villegas (52) |
Dudley Hart (53) |
| Carl Pettersson (54) |
Tom Pernice Jr. (55) |
Ben Curtis (56) |
| Dean Wilson (57) |
Nicholas Thompson (58) |
|
|
| A top-2 finish |
| Cliff Kresge (62) |
Ken Duke (63) |
Steve Elkington (67) |
| Matt Kuchar (69) |
John Senden (70) |
Charlie Wi (73) |
| Retief Goosen (74) |
Alex Cejka (76) |
John Mallinger (77) |
| Brad Adamonis (78) |
Nathan Green (79) |
Corey Pavin (80) |
| Billy Mayfair (81) |
Fred Couples (83) |
|
|
| A win |
| Troy Matteson (84) |
Matt Jones (90) |
Michael Letzig (91) |
| Jay Williamson (92) |
Scott Verplank (93) |
Parker McLachlin (94) |
| Bill Haas (95) |
Kevin Na (96) |
Mark Wilson (97) |
| Nick Watney (98) |
Charley Hoffman (100) |
Tim Wilkinson (101) |
| Steve Flesch (103) |
Mark Calcavecchia (104) |
Bo Van Pelt (105) |
| Dustin Johnson (106) |
Charles Warren (108) |
Eric Axley (109) |
| Richard S. Johnson (111) |
Bob Tway (112) |
Shane Bertsch (113) |
| Brian Davis (114) |
Kevin Streelman (117) |
Tim Petrovic (120) |
| Jason Day (121) |
Patrick Sheehan (122) |
Joe Durant (123) |
| Michael Allen (125) |
Frank Lickliter II (127) |
Chez Reavie (128) |
| Bob Estes (129) |
Jason Gore (132) |
Jon Mills (134) |
|
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