Entertaining Playoffs left golf fans wanting a little more
By Craig Dolch, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Any quality entertainer will tell you they have two goals when they take the stage: Put on a good show and always leave with the audience wanting a little more.
By that definition, the third edition of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup has to be considering a rousing success. What golf fan wasn't excited to see Phil Mickelson fire a final-round 65 Sunday to win THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola by three shots over Tiger Woods?
There was the sentimental thrill of watching Lefty win for the first time since his wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, were diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. There was the excitement of watching Woods fight back with a pair of late birdies on the back nine.
There was the unknown of wondering who would win the FedExCup as several players held the points lead in the final round. Woods didn't catch Mickelson, but his strong finish enabled him to cash a $10 million check for winning the FedExCup for the second time. (OK, it was just $9 million in cash, but Woods should be able to get by in these troubled times.)
This ending was certainly more dramatic than the last two FedExCups, which Woods and Vijay Singh had virtually clinched before arriving at East Lake. They didn't have to finish first to win; they just had to finish.
And that doesn't usually help the TV ratings.
It's never a bad sign to see Mickelson and Woods standing on the 18th green, each holding a trophy over his head. Heck, being able to watch the sport's two biggest stars battling on the fourth Sunday of September isn't something often seen.
That's why the FedExCup was founded -- to get the world's best golfers on the same course a few more times after the PGA Championship. And that's what happened -- this year was actually the first time Woods played in all four playoff events after skipping one in 2007 and being sidelined last year with a knee injury. (Mickelson also skipped the BMW Championship in 2007.)
While the debate rages on over what's the best, most understandable format for golf's Playoffs -- some suggest switching from points to strokes under par so everyone knows where they stand -- there was no complaint from the guy who finished second in the FedExCup. Mickelson was 14th in the FedExCup standings heading to East Lake after not finishing above 27th place in his first three playoff events.
"I know that if you play well, you do well, and I think that's important," Mickelson said. "I didn't play well the first three FedExCup events; I don't deserve to win the entire FedExCup just based on one tournament win. So the way it worked out this year, it seems like it's just. The best player won, the guy who played the best in all four events won, and I liked the fact that I was able to make up extra ground here in the final event."
Woods admitted he was skeptical about the most recent format changes, where the points were re-set before THE TOUR Championship, ensuring the top five leaders were ensured of claiming the FedExCup by winning at East Lake. Woods pointed out a player -- in this case, it was Jim Furyk -- could win the $10 million first prize without winning a tournament this year.
But it's impossible to argue with the final results of 1. Woods, 2. Phil Mickelson and 3. Steve Stricker. Woods has won the most tournaments on the PGA TOUR this season (six) while Mickelson and Stricker are next with three victories.
"The guys who were the most consistent did the best (in the standings)," Woods said. "That's what you want to see. But you also have to play well at the right times."
That was obvious at the BMW Championship, where several players bobbed above and below the No. 30 spot that earned them a trip to THE TOUR Championship. With Woods cruising to an eight-shot win, the other battle kept things interesting that Sunday.
The other issue players had with the playoff format was a schedule that had many of the game's top stars playing in four-of-five tournaments down the stretch. An off week was added before THE TOUR Championship, and next year that off week will be moved into the middle of the four-tournament playoff run. A better move.
Next year already looks intriguing after what happened at East Lake. Woods has shown he's over the reconstructive leg surgery that sidelined him the last half of the 2008 season. And Lefty admits he's pumped about 2010 after some recent work with putting guru Dave Stockton helped him one-putt half of the 72 greens at East Lake.
NBC announcer and Hall of Famer Johnny Miller already proclaimed Mickelson as his choice for Player of the Year in '10, about the only honor that has escaped Lefty.
Miller's words may have been a bit of hype, perhaps. But that just shows the power of what happens in the Playoffs. We enjoyed them, and now we want a little more.
Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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