Cink claims first major, improves FedExCup position

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Stewart Cink made a big leap toward qualifying for THE TOUR Championship field with his British Open victory.

ATLANTA -- With a little more than two months before the start of competition at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, former Georgia Tech standout and Duluth, Ga., resident Stewart Cink gave everyone associated with East Lake Golf Club something to cheer about over the weekend.

Cink, who plays out of East Lake and closely supports the East Lake Foundation, earned his sixth PGA TOUR victory and first major championship with a playoff triumph over Tom Watson at the British Open. East Lake Golf Club will host THE TOUR Championship, which will once again be the final event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, Sept. 22-27.

Entering the final round three shots off Watson's 54-hole lead, Cink crafted a 1-under 69 in breezy conditions Sunday to match Watson at 2-under 278 at the end of regulation. Cink converted a clutch putt on the 72nd hole to post 2 under and watched as Watson bogeyed the 18th hole, sending the two into a four-hole playoff. Cink claimed the victory after posting two pars and two birdies in the playoff.

With the victory, his first on the PGA TOUR since the 2008 Travelers Championship, Cink earned 600 FedExCup points and vaulted from No. 56 to No. 13 in the standings. Six events contested over the next five weeks will close out the PGA TOUR Regular Season, with the top 125 players on the FedExCup points list qualifying for The Barclays, the first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, scheduled for Aug. 25-30.

Cink is now squarely in the hunt for the FedExCup and will be aiming to move into the top five by THE TOUR Championship, which would ensure him the FedExCup title with a win at the Playoff finale. The top five currently includes: 2007 Barclays Champion Steve Stricker (No. 1); 2007 FedExCup champion Tiger Woods (No. 2); Kenny Perry (No. 3); Zach Johnson (No. 4); and Phil Mickelson (No. 5).

A three-time All-American for the Yellow Jackets from 1993-95, Cink will look to make his eighth appearance at THE TOUR Championship. The top 30 players on the FedExCup points list following the BMW Championship will earn a spot in the field at East Lake. Cink qualified for THE TOUR Championship in both 2007 and 2008, the first two years of the FedExCup competition, and tied for 11th and 24th, respectively.

Several changes to the points structure for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup have been instituted in 2009, including a points reset prior to THE TOUR Championship, giving every player in the field a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup.

Here is a brief summary of the changes to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup new for 2009:

• The top 125 players on the final Regular Season FedExCup points list qualify for The Barclays.

• The top 100 players on the FedExCup points list following The Barlcays qualify for the Deutsche Bank Championship.

• The top 70 players on the FedExCup points list following the Deutsche Bank Championship qualify for the BMW Championhip.

• Each playoff event offers 2,500 FedExCup points to the winner (quintuple the Regular Season).

• A points reset will take place following the BMW Championship giving all 30 players in the field at THE TOUR Championship a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup.

Tickets to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola are available at www.PGATOUR.COM/TOURCHAMPIONSHIP. Daily and Weekly tickets are available starting Wednesday of tournament week, Sept. 23.