2009 FedExCup changes: Breaking down the specifics
By PGA TOUR staff
The PGA TOUR Policy Board recently approved structural changes in the FedExCup for 2009. We have made several adjustments to strengthen the drama and excitement in the Playoffs, particularly as it relates to ensuring THE TOUR Championship is the dramatic conclusion to the FedExCup. Specifically, we will be implementing these changes:
1. The Playoffs Reset will be moved from its current position prior to the beginning of the Playoffs, to occur prior to the beginning of THE TOUR Championship. Therefore, points earned in the Regular Season will carry through the first three Playoff events.
2. All Playoff events will award points equal to five times a Regular Season event.
3. The reset prior to THE TOUR Championship will be calibrated so that all 30 seeds will have a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup, with the top half of the field having a good chance. Further, any of the top five seeds would win the FedExCup with a TOUR Championship victory.
There are three other minor changes:
1. Points awarded during Regular Season events will be recalibrated so that the winner receives 500 points, rather than 4,500.
2. Certain Regular Season events -- the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship and World Golf Championships will receive bonus points similar to last year (10 percent for majors and five percent for WGCs), but with a small additional bonus to the winners of those events (an additional 10 percent for majors winners and five percent for WGC winners).
3. Field sizes in the Playoffs will be 125 at The Barclays, 100 at Deutsche Bank Championship, 70 at the BMW Championship and 30 at THE TOUR Championship.
In summary, the 2009 FedExCup structure will work like this:
1. Players compete throughout the year, beginning with the Mercedes Benz Championship (Jan. 8-11) and concluding with the Wyndham Championship (Aug. 20-23) for FedExCup points in each Regular Season event. In most events, the winner receives 500 points.
2. At the start of the Playoffs, the top 125 points-earners in the Regular Season compete at The Barclays, with points values quintupled. Points earned in the first three Playoff events are added to points earned throughout the Regular Season.
3. The top 100 points-earners following The Barclays will be eligible to play the Deutsche Bank Championship, and similarly, the top 70 points-earners following that event will be eligible for the BMW Championship.
4. Following the conclusion of the BMW Championship, points will be reset for the top 30 points-earners to that time. The relevant factors regarding the reset are that:
• All 30 players in THE TOUR Championship have a chance to win the FedExCup, possibly depending on how other players finish
• The top 10 seeds have an excellent chance to win the FedExCup if they win THE TOUR Championship
• The top 5 seeds control their own destiny, in the sense that a victory at THE TOUR Championship will guarantee winning the FedExCup.
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