The culmination of the season-long race to the FedExCup is worth the hype, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
For a year you’ve heard the lines about the FedExCup, East Lake, the Tour Championship, $10-million and the constant rankings updates. Usually, you’ve heard those lines late at night during a random tour event in a thick, overstated American accent. It can be a bit much at times but it’s probably the only negative to the not-so-new innovation to create something beyond golf’s four Majors.
And it’s worked.
Ask the players and they’ll agree. After all many professionals are in it for the money. Sure, they want Major wins and love to compete but ultimately they are on the circuit for 30+ weeks a year to make cash.
I may be giving my age away but I’m more in the FedExCup era and can hardly remember the time before it. What happened after the PGA Championship? Anything of real significance besides Tiger or Phil adding to their win count?
Quite predictably, Tiger won the first FedExCup. And the third one for that matter. But the mega-money hasn’t always gone to the top-ranked player. Billy Horschel, Bill Haas – his par from the 17th water hazard lives long in the memory – and Brandt Snedeker have all banked the money.
This year, the top five are Jordan, Justin, Dustin, Leishman and Jon Rahm. All but Leishman have Player of the Year in sight. Rahm’s already sown up the Rookie title. They are on form and ready for one final push.
The reward for their ‘slog’? $10-million and potentially the $1 575 000 that the winner of the Tour Championship will take home. If that’s not something worth getting excited for then I don’t know what is.
Last week was great too, if you were up late enough you could see Louis Oosthuizen’s great recovery and how his name bounced around the bubble of the top 30 players who would play in the finale. He finished 31st – how crazy is that?! One shot less over three weeks or even earlier and he’s done enough to advance if only with a miniscule chance of winning the jackpot. But that’s golf.
Similar stories on both sides of the bubble for Phil and Sergio. A whole host of storylines that had happy or sad endings but nevertheless added to the intrigue.
But the real drama will come this Sunday – remember last year when Rory won it all from nowhere. For a refresher, he was three behind with three to play at the Tour Championship. He holed out for eagle in regulation, got himself into a playoff and then sank a 15-footer for birdie in the playoff – BOOM! Instantly $11.575m richer! Ask him his thoughts on the FedExCup.
It may be an over-zealous call – blame the commentators for hooking me into thinking there’s a twist around every dogleg – but something similar could be coming your way this weekend especially considering the calibre of players vying for the title.
Did I say title? I meant money.
Money has and always will be the best motivator. The pros’ cash games are legendary and most of you reading this will have something on your Saturday games.
The cheque certainly brought out the best in Haas and Horschel and what did we get in return? Some great viewing and plenty of action.
We’ve had 10 years of the FedExCup, enough great golf has been played to confirm that it is about more than just the money. So sit back and enjoy …
