Look to McMahon and Trump to fix the Big Flop in the Middle
Sometime around 4:30 during the last round of the third Fed Ex Cup playoff event (there are four), the announcer said: "If Garcia sinks this putt, Vijay Singh wins the $10 million Fed Ex Cup." I thought I had misheard. How can this be? What about the last tournament in the series?
Vince McMahon is someone who knows what he's doing when it comes to hype. He's the showman who built wrestling into a major league spectator sport, and even though he failed when it came to his football league, he got one thing right -- what he called the "Big Game at the End." The two best teams in the league played for all the glory in a deciding encounter -- at the end. It was hardly a revolutionary concept.
It's just like the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA Finals -- all major league professional sports are set up so [1] the excitement for the fans peaks at the end of the season, [2] the sponsors get maximum exposure for their buck and [3] the TV network that bought the rights makes some cash because both the drama and the ratings are high.
All major sports but the PGA Tour, that is. It's hard to believe that the commish Tim Finchem and his crew didn't catch a design flaw that violated "the Big Game at the End" rule. Unless he was "Wie-d," Vijay Singh won the cup before the first tee shot of the last leg was even hit. Why design a structure where the last tournament has even a chance to be irrelevant? Sure it paid $10 million to the winner, but it wouldn't have mattered if they gave away a small town in New Jersey. It's like stirring your drink with your nose -- a nice trick, but why?
The Tour could also take a cue from The Donald. Trump has it right in his million-dollar ADT tournament for the LPGA. You take the top 30 scores after three days, and those players advance to the final day, where all scores are wiped away and everyone starts equal. It has some pump to it, and most importantly, it eliminates the possibility of someone winning before the tournament is over.
It's the simple stuff that generates interest. Trump knows the value of a crescendo, whether it's someone being fired or someone winning a million bucks.
Finchem, the accountant, apparently doesn't. Unless you were a golf diehard, why would you watch a four-tournament package with a format so complicated that it could be sold on Wall Street as part of another toxic security package ready for public consumption?
Tims' Whim needs to be more like Trump's Pump. It's pretty basic: The key to fixing the FedEx Cup is to make the Tour Championship the Big Tournament at the End.
Posted by: Beverly | Sep 30, 2008 2:32:55 AM
In light of the fact that two men won two tournaments and one was the automatic winner if tees off at the last tournament, the scoring needs to be rehashed. It's not the art of the deal but closing the deal, a major finish. The PGA needs to really think about how to make the FED EX cup have a more fantastic finish. They are losing fans in the end if it remains as it is now. I love golf, the sport, not the giveaway. Maybe you can build up to the Tour Championship increasing the purse as you win multiple times.
Tournament 1 - 1 million
Tournament 2 -1 million
Tournament 3 - 1 million
If a player repeats a win (in tournaments 2 or 3) the first place prize doubled
If a player wins all three- total winnings would be 6 million dollars. 1+ 2+ 3
Tour Championship - clean slate
5 million dollar winner - pair them by points earned
This is just a suggestion..from a golf fan.
Posted by: Golf Tank | Sep 30, 2008 8:17:18 AM
2 other possibilities:
1. Reset the points after each playoff stage. In other playoff systems, no wins is carried over when moving to the next play off round. This is equally important as field is trimmed in each round.
2. Or, increase the points awarded on each round not just the tour championship.
Posted by: Ernesto Bournigal | Sep 30, 2008 9:21:59 AM
They should think about making the tour championship a winner take all match play event, seeded on the Fedex cup standings. The 3 prior tournaments will just help determine seeding.
Posted by: Ed | Sep 30, 2008 12:34:49 PM
I totally see the PGA's point of having the regular season count... but I believe it should be treated like all the other sports, and just determine who actually gets into the playoffs.
Playoffs -- at least in the other major sports -- are exciting because there's always the chance that there's a team that will go on a hot streak and make a run at the end. Everyone likes the underdog story, and it certainly worked to Rocco's advantage at the US Open.
At it's most simplistic, use a points system to determine who plays in the Playoffs, and then cut the field after each event. You'll be left with the players who played consistently over the course of the playoffs, and more than a few surprises as some fall and otheres step up...
Posted by: Charlie | Sep 30, 2008 1:53:08 PM
Scrap the hole points thing to start with. Take the top 100 money winners. (this makes the regular season matter) They get invited to the first playoff tournament. Cut the field to 50 plus ties. This group gets to play in the second playoff tournament. Cut this field to 30. This group then plays in the third and final tournament with the winner taking the fedex cup. This way you have to play the three tournaments to win, and each week is a gut check to get thru to the next round of the playoffs. This a playoff, not what the PGA is trying to pawn off now.
Posted by: dennis | Sep 30, 2008 8:59:40 PM
Right on Charlie, Theres a playoff I can understand.
Posted by: Sidney Lewinson | Oct 2, 2008 10:33:25 AM
Fed Ex Cup.
1. Top 10 in the world get a by 1st Fed Ex tournament, and are paid 1 million down to $200,000.
2. Top 10 can also choose to enter tournament and win their share of the purse
3. Reset all points to zero after each tournament. Give the best Tee time based on finish each subsequent tournment.
4. Only top 125 Fed Ex point earners qualify for the Fed Ex Cup.
5. Reduce the playing field by 32 players first two tournaments. Reduce by 31 the 3rd tournament leaving only top 30 for the final.
6. Fed Ex Cup winner get 10 million. 2nd place gets 5 million, 3 place gets 3 million, 4th place gets 2 million. Reduce earning for 5th place and below to start at $600,000. This is in addition to a players share of the purse. Good play will be rewarded, the same as with points.
7. This format should be followed for all for Fed Ex Tournaments. The PGA tour can work out the numbers for the first three tournaments. I think you guys can take it from here.
Posted by: Just Mike | Oct 7, 2008 5:00:30 PM
1. Drop the point system entirely
2. Cut the playoffs to 3 events
3. Top 5 on the season-long money list get a bye into the Tour Championship
4. The next 120 (plus the top 5 if they choose) play in both of the first two events
5. The top 15 from each of the first two events, plus the top 5 money winners from the regular season, are invited into the Tour Championship.
6. Winner of the TC = Winner of the FedEx cup
This way:
- the very best are guaranteed to get in
- they don't undercut the system by bitching about playing extra events
- two near-full field events will keep the other players happy
- the other top players all get two cracks at playing for the big money, so we don't miss out on them if they have one bad week
- with just 3 events we can get it done before the RC/PC
- the final event is truly meaningful
Make it so.