Debate On Success Of FedEx Cup Begins As Woods Wins Playoffs

Woods Wins Inaugural FedEx Cup

REAX: In Toronto, Ian Hutchinson writes of the playoffs, while PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has taken some “verbal boots, he won’t get the boot, even though there have been such whispered calls. Finchem is a survivor and has a pretty good record to fight off any threat to his throne.” But the “overall package failed,” and the “problem for him is that there isn’t much room to swing a hammer during reconstruction.”  Hutchinson: "One thing is certain, the status quo just won't cut it" (TORONTO SUN, 9/17). In DC, Barker Davis writes it would be “nice to see slightly smaller fields and slightly more potential for fluctuation. But Finchem should get credit for coming up with a concept, albeit largely swiped from [NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup], that made post-PGA Championship golf worth watching."  The FedEx Cup "has a chance of assuming just sub-major status” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/17). In Dallas, Bill Nichols wrote the FedEx Cup playoffs “accomplished what it set out to do by getting the top players together more often” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/15). In Charlotte, Ron Green Jr.: “From a pure golf standpoint, it’s been outstanding” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/16).  However, in Toronto, Lorne Rubenstein wrote, “It’s too early to review the FedEx Cup. … A fair analysis should be done only after some time has passed.” The FedEx Cup playoffs “can’t dent the significance of the majors” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/15).

FINCHEM: BBC commentator Peter Alliss said watching the PGA Tour is “a bit like going to see The Mousetrap every week, and going across the road from the theatre to eat the same meal. No matter how good the play is or the food is, you soon get bored with it.” He added, for Finchem, “the state of the game is neither here nor there. He is responsible for providing tournaments for his members to play in. I didn’t think he could continue to find sponsors willing to put up a $1M first prize every week, but he has.”  But Alliss added of Finchem, “I’m not sure he really cares about the European Tour. If we went under, I’m not sure it would register on his radar. He’s always squeezing dates. The Ryder Cup is moving farther and farther back” (THE SCOTSMAN, 9/16).

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