Ten burning questions going into the 2009 Playoffs
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Here's a quick look at some of the pertinent questions going into the start of the 2009 PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
Q. Will Tiger Woods play all four events in the Playoffs?
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A. Tiger has not played in The Barclays since it became the first Playoffs event. So his decision to enter this year -- coupled with the week off before THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola -- has many thinking he might play all four. After all, he's had considerable success in all the other Playoff events. He's won and tied for second in his last two appearances at the Deutsche Bank Championship which also happens to benefit his foundation. Woods has also won four times and finished second twice at Cog Hill, which hosts the BMW Championship, although only one of those wins has been in the Playoffs. And as for the finale -- Woods sealed a runaway in the inaugural FedExCup when he won at East Lake in 2007. He's finished second there in his two previous starts, as well. Not to mention, Woods is on a roll (despite losing the lead on Sunday at Hazeltine) and winning the FedExCup would be a great way to end a rare major-less season on a high note.
Q: Same question -- what about Phil Mickelson?
A: Phil, on the other hand, has often played The Barclays. So to see him in the field -- near the New York fans who embrace him so much -- isn't surprising. He won the Deutsche Bank Championship the first time he played in 2007, too. But Mickelson has been hit-or-miss at Cog Hill, and he's never had a top-10 finish there, so that could be the question mark -- unless he's making a bid for the all-important top five entering THE TOUR Championship. Again, the week off is a positive, and Mickelson is a former champ at East Lake.
Q: Is Vijay Singh in good shape to defend his title?
A: Hmmm, well. ... Last year, Singh used a hot putter to win the first two events, essentially clinching the title before even reaching THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. This year, he's shown little evidence of heating up. He had just three top-10 finishes in 19 starts, and he's a collective 8 over in his last three starts. And he currently ranks 168th in putting average.
Q: Any notables who didn't make the Playoffs?
A: Corey Pavin, the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, just missed out; he was 129th in points. Last year's PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, Andres Romero, didn't play at the Wyndham Championship and failed to secure a spot. Two recognizable names, Rocco Mediate and Stuart Appleby, also are on the outside looking in. And two players who battled at the U.S. Open down the stretch, Ricky Barnes and David Duval, finished 142nd and 149th, respectively.
Q. So how do the points work?
A. The points for the Playoffs are quintupled over the regular season so a victory is worth 2,500 points. That means anyone who wins one of the first three Playoff events has put himself in great position for the reset that happens before the finale, which is THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. Tiger Woods will start the Playoffs in the No. 1 spot with a lead of 1,276 points, but because of the increase in points and the change in reset (see below), his lead is not nearly as daunting as it might have been when he won in 2007.
Q. Why are the points reset before THE TOUR Championship?
A. The points will be reset to assure that the FedExCup will be decided at East Lake. The leader in the standings will receive 2,500 points, second gets 2,250, third 2,000 and so on down to 210 for the No. 30 player. Due to the reset, every player who makes the field for THE TOUR Championship will have a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup, although only the top five are guaranteed to control their own destiny by winning at East Lake. Those players seeded 6-10 also have a great -- but not guaranteed -- chance of winning the FedExCup with a win at East Lake.
Q. What incentive does a player have for competing in all four Playoff events?
A. With quintuple points awarded, the Playoffs will be critical in determining who is in best contention to win the FedExCup. Even if a player has won a major or multiple TOUR events during the regular season, he needs to perform well in the Playoffs to maintain a high seed after the reset is made prior to THE TOUR Championship. Not to mention, the quality of the fields for the Playoff events is another drawing card -- and the off week prior to the finale in East Lake make scheduling easier this year than last when all four Playoffs were in consecutive weeks.
Q. How is the Playoffs field reduced?
A. There's a progressive cut. The starting field for The Barclays is 125. Only the top 100 advance to play in the Deutsche Bank Championship. The Playoffs field is then whittled again to 70 for the BMW Championship. And then the top 30 survivors get to play in THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola -- which is where the FedExCup will be decided.
Q. So what about the actual tournaments? Is there a cut to the low 70s and ties after the second round like in a regular season event?
A. Yes, but only in the first two events. The FedExCup points are then tallied up at the end of four rounds to determine the 100 and 70 players who advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship, respectively. There is no 36-hole cut at the final two Playoffs events.
Q. What do you get for winning the FedExCup?
A. The winner gets a silver Tiffany trophy and a $10 million bonus. But everyone who makes the Playoffs earns money, with the player in second place receiving $3 million and third $2 million down to $70,000 for the player finishing in the 125 spot.
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