By PGATOUR.COM staff PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem
said Wednesday he was not "uncomfortable" with the potential
scenario of Rory McIlroy not winning the FedExCup on Sunday, even
if he finishes second at this week's TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
after winning the previous two FedExCup Playoffs events. During his
annual "state of the TOUR" address prior to the TOUR Championship
by Coca-Cola, Finchem was asked for his thoughts about the FedExCup
points structure, which provides for a reset prior to East Lake in
order to give all players a chance to win the FedExCup, while
allowing the first five players in points to control their own
destiny this week. McIlroy comes to East Lake off consecutive wins
at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship and is
ranked No. 1 in points. But should Tiger Woods, Nick Watney, Phil
Mickelson or Brandt Snedeker win the TOUR Championship, that player
would also be guaranteed the FedExCup title, even if McIlroy
finishes second. "I don't think we're uncomfortable with that
phenomenon," Finchem said. The commissioner added that "the system
rewards winning and it also rewards consistency. ... It's a system
that is predicated on you have to perform multiple times." Finchem
noted that the odds are stacked against a player who is farther
down the points list, but the possibility exists that any player
can still win. Last year, Bill Haas was ranked 25th in points
coming into East Lake but won the TOUR Championship in a playoff
and saw the other scenarios fall in his favor. "I think it's worked
well, and the right people have won," Finchem said. "Finishes have
been fantastic, and the fans like it." For the complete transcript
of the Commissioner's news conference,
click
here.