6 Things to Know About the FedEx Cup Playoffs

Don’t miss the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills

It has been astonishing to watch the Jekyll and Hyde character of the PGA Tour this season.

Almost every Sunday we witnessed a predictable but boring succession of little-known winners, italicized by that dreadful snooze-fest, the Wyndham Championship, when almost every top 100 touring pro simply took the week off or, again, played absolutely pitifully.

About the only saving grace to this forgettable 2013-14 road show—which has been much better suited for PBS than CBS, NBC or TNT—was the Rory McIlroy Show, which began in spine-tingling and dramatic fashion with a victory at the British Open.

It continued a week later with another trophy hoist at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and then he earned an unbelievable three-peat and the Wanamaker Trophy with a lights-out performance at the PGA Championship two weeks ago that also gave him back-to-back majors.

Now comes the FedExCup Playoffs—the so-called Road to the Tour Championship, a four-tournament series that starts this week at The Barclays and will run through Denver en route to determining the season-long king of the PGA Tour at East Lake Golf Club.

Here are six things you should know about the FedExCup Playoffs:

1. FedExCup points amassed during the season count only toward qualifying for this week’s Barclays in New Jersey, which is inviting just 125 players—those pros that banked enough FedExCup points during the previous 39-week season.

2. The top 100 in the Barclays compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston, which whittles the field to 70 for the no-cut BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club. The top 30 from the BMW compete for the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola. Fedex Cup points reset before the Tour Championship, so that mathematically at least, all 30 players have a chance at winning the FedEx Cup.

3. The better performing, four-tournament player will win the FedExCup and the lion’s share of a beyond-belief $67 million accumulated purse. Tiger Woods won the inaugural Cup in 2007 and again in 2009. Others to hoist the FedExCup trophy include Vijay Singh (2008), Jim Furyk (2010), Bill Haas (2011), Brandt Snedeker (2012) and Henrik Stenson (2013).

4. Who should you watch over the next four weeks? McIlroy, most certainly. He leads the field with the most FedExCup points going into Thursday (2,582) followed by Jimmie Walker (2,493), Bubba Watson (2,173), Matt Kuchar (1,921) and Jim Furyk (1,851).

5. Who also has compelling momentum going into the event? Keep an eye on event winners Martin Kaymer and Adam Scott, as well as non-winners Furyk, Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na and Ryan Palmer. And don’t count out the aged but eager Phil Mickelson, who is showing measurable signs of resurgence following an inspired runner-up finish at the PGA Championship.

6. In three weeks, Colorado fans will have a front-and-center view of the playoffs and their favorite PGA Tour pros when the BMW Championship is played at historic Cherry Hills Country Club. Even with Tiger Woods sidelined through at least December, the BMW is setting up to be an exciting event. Tickets are still available.

RELATED LINKS

Forethoughts: No Tiger, No Cry

That 70s Show: The PGA Tour is Back, Baby!

10 Holes to Watch at the BMW Championship

Sportsmanship Won the Wanamaker

Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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