2011 - A Year in Review

2011 was the year of Luke Donald

It culminated in a day of triumph. After Alvaro Quiros sunk a dramatic eagle putt on the 72nd to add just a little extra gloss on a tremendous win at the Dubai World Championship, Luke Donald was ushered in as the first player in history to officially win the Money Lists on both the European and US PGA Tour's. The Race to Dubai, which spanned a total of 51 weeks, went right down to its final event. Although Rory McIlroy, who himself has had a breakthrough season, didn't quite threaten Donald's lead in the end, it offered a sense of drama, excitement and uncertainity - three words that have indeed dominated a momentous year in the world of golf.

PGA Tour

The youth dominated in 2011

In what was in many respects a transitional year Stateside, the rookies took over. With the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk taking more of a spectators seat, the PGA Tour offered tremendous variety and an influx of new exciting young talent with an incredible 13 first time winners. 2011 was a year of opportunity for many. The successes of Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley and Gary Woodland illustrate that the depth in fearless, talented and committed young American players is far greater than many critics would have believed. The FedEx Cup still hasn't yet found the perfect format, however it is still the best end to a season that is currently possible, and the excitement factor was certainly clear at a dramatic Tour Championship which concluded with a $10 Million playoff between Bill Haas and Nick Watney. To the delight of the Tour, the battle for the money list was prolonged to the final week of the Fall Series at Disney with Luke Donald brilliantly holding back a brave late season fight back from Webb Simpson.American golf ended 2011 in fine fashion with victories in both the World Cup of Golf, and in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

European Tour

Sergio came back to form in 2011 looking ahead.

Following an historically successful 2010 season, this year wasn't far from being as good. With European Tour members Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke all claiming Major Championship glory in 2011, the recent dominance from the Tour on the major stage did not relent. Similarly to the States, a great number of young players continued to gain prominence. With players such as Matteo Manassero, Alex Noren, Oliver Fisher and Pablo Larrazabal all picking up victories, the pool of potential Ryder Cup qualifiers both in 2012, but also well into the future has been deepened, and with a welcome late season return to form from Sergio Garcia, there is plenty of experienced added into that mix. The Race to Dubai, in its 3rd year, had undoubtedly its most successful season yet. World Number 1 Luke Donald looked destined for months to claim the title, but a late surge from US Open champion Rory McIlroy kept the race alive until the final week in Dubai.

LPGA Tour & Ladies European Tour
It continues to be a dark period for the ladies game, both financially and commercially. Despite the quite incredible achievements of Yani Tseng, arguably the most talented female player seen in generations, the ladies game still struggles to retain sponsors and television spots. However this side of the game offered us arguably the finest sample of dramatic and exciting golf in 2011. The Solheim Cup, which took place at Killeen Castle in Ireland, was maligned by slow play and an often subdued atmosphere, suddenly came to life on the final day and particularly during the final hour of the Singles when a Europe, inspired by Suzann Petterson, Caroline Hedwall and Azahara Munoz, came back from what appeared to be likely defeat, to win their first Solheim since 2003. It was sporting drama at its very best, and placed a much needed and deserved spotlight onto the ladies game. However, despite this exposure, the battle for the ladies professional game, both in Europe and in the States, continues to be a losing struggle, and the fight will continue well into the years ahead, as these very talented women deserve so much better.

The 2011 Solheim Cup was a great week for European and Ladies golf as a whole.

The Masters Tournament

Charl Schwartzel won a dramatic Masters Tournament

In one of the most memorable editions of this iconic event from Augusta National, talented South African Charl Schwartzel, following the greatest individual finish to a Masters, joined his compatriots Gary Player and Trevor Immelman in having the privilege of wearing the Green Jacket. Schwartzel birdies the final four holes on Sunday to defeat an extremely talented chasing pack on a day in which eight different players had at least a share of the lead, included five simultaneously on the back nine. Following the tragic collapse of Rory McIlroy, who went into Sunday with a four shot lead, Tiger Woods set the tournament alight with a dramatic front nine of 31 and inspired the other members of the leaderboard onto providing us with the most Augusta excitement that a Masters Tournament has offered us this century. McIlroy's woe was Schwartzel gain, but one thing is for certain, Sunday's at the Masters are back.

The US Open.

In 2011 the promise of Rory McIlroy came true

In what was the greatest performance seen in a Major since Tiger Woods' obliteration of the Pebble Beach field in 2000, Rory McIlroy wrote his own edition of the US Open record book with a quite simply phenomenal performance at Congressional. Exorcising the demons from Augusta, Rory destroyed the assembled field in a manner that many doubted we would ever see again. The great literary minds of the 19th and 20th centuries would not have been able to adequately describe Rory's performance, but it was an event of extraordinary proportions that shook the world of the golf and will be spoken about for decades. Rory McIlroy, the prodigal talent from Northern Ireland, showed his promise in a manner, which even his greatest supporters would have been stunned by. The 2011 United States Open, the third edition at Congressional Country Club, will not go down alongside the classics in terms of excitement, but will be remembered for some time to come, because of one individual, Rory McIlroy.

The Open Championship

In 2011 Darren Clarke finally kissed his dream.

Following McIlroy's exploits in the previous month, if there was one Ulsterman you would have picked to win the 141st Open Championship at Royal St George's, it most likely wouldn't have been 42 year old Darren Clarke! In what was the golfing fairytale of the decade, Clarke, who has overcome great personal tragedy and suffering in his life, finally won a Major in his 54th attempt in emotional fashion in the testing conditions of the Kentish coast. Clarke battled the conditions, and the quirky layout of Sandwich, better than anyone else in the field, as he outlasted a charge from Phil Mickelson and a sustained challenge from another American, Dustin Johnson. It was the most popular win in modern memory, and there was not a member of the crowd and watching audience who didn't have a tear in their eye as Darren Clarke strode down the 18th fairway of Sandwich, knowing that he had achieved the ultimate goal; He was the Open Champion.

The PGA Championship.

Keegan Bradley made history in 2011

The PGA, often regarded as the forgotten of the four majors, certainly made a name for itself with its dramatic conclusion that had rarely been matched before. The first half of the week was dominated by the disastrous performance of Tiger Woods, who after a fine start, fell to his worst ever finish in a Major Championship, missing the cut by six shots after rounds of 77 and 73. As the 93rd PGA looked like drifting into the category of the unmemorable, two unexpected names rose to the top and provided those who watched with a golfing spectacle. Keegan Bradley, in his first ever major appearance, and Jason Dufner, who had never won on the main Tour, displayed incredibly exciting golf under the utmost pressure, in a duel which had to be settled in the end by a three hole playoff. Ultimately it was a tearful Bradley who became Bradley became only the third player after Francis Ouimet (1913 - US Open) and Ben Curtis (2003 - Open Championship) to win a major in his first ever attempt. It was a dramatic and unexpected ending to one of the finest major championship quartets that has been seen for quite some time.

Will Luke Donald and Tiger Woods battle head to head in 2012?

 It was the year that just kept on giving. 2011 was truly an exciting year to be a golf fan. Consistently, event after event, whatever the Tour, whatever the gender and whatever the age, it continued to deliver small crumbs of drama and excitement, and as fans of the game, you were desperate to experience some more. There isn't a golf fan in the world that isn't excited about the potential of 2012. With a resurgent Tiger Woods looking to get back to the top, he'll face stiff opposition in the form of Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, all of whom are basing themselves primarily on the PGA Tour in the New Year. In a Ryder Cup season, captains Olazabal and Love will be keeping an eye on their respective teams, while also glancing over at the continuing rise in strength within the other side. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, 12 months from now, 2011 might in contrast turn out to be a rather average season in what is beginning to develop into the most exciting and competitive period in the modern history of the professional game.

Tiger's latest return to golf is more of a cameo appearance than it is a true comeback.

7 weeks have passed since the dramatic humbling of Tiger Woods in Atlanta. His performance at the 93rd PGA Championship, his worst ever result in a Major Championship after rounds of 77 and 73, led many observors to state that the latterly traumatic life and career of the once near invincible Woods was all but over. Nearly 2 years have passed since Tiger last lifted a title worldwide. That was the Australian Masters on November 15th, 2009. Since then Tiger's career has been fragmented by firstly the 'scandal' which led to a 5 month absence from the game, and subsequent injuries leading to a heavily disrupted schedule. We have only seen brief glimpses of the Tiger of old. Most notably on the Saturday of the 2010 US Open and the final round of this years Masters Tournament. However, with his game seemingly in disarray, doubts over his fitness and with the new breed of young talent that have risen to the top, most have now doubted whether Tiger will achieve the goal, once believed to be a certainity, of breaking Jack Nicklaus' 18 Major Championship wins record. 

In many ways the humbling of Woods continues this week as he makes yet another return to the game. On this occasion after a difficult season which saw poor results and a fragmented schedule of only 8 events, missing two majors in the process, the stage for this latest comeback is less grand than in the past as he'll tee it up for the first time in a PGA Tour Fall Series Event at the Fry's.Com Open.

A more positive Woods will return at the Fry's.Com Open

However, as much as the media will likely try to paint it otherwise, this week or indeed this period can not be regarded as a 'comeback' in the truest sense of the word. 

A true comeback to the game would be regarded as playing a consistent schedule over a period of weeks and months, but that is not the case this time for Tiger Woods. In fact, in that sense 2011 as a whole has been a write off year for him. After playing this week at CordeValle, Tiger will yet again take a break from the game for a month until the Australian Open, the prelude to the Presidents Cup, which he will play in early November. In fairness to Woods, he does have his reasons for not adding at least one more Fall Series event to his schedule. Next week, clashing with the McGladdery at Sea Island, Tiger will be at Pebble Beach overseeing a fundraising event for his ever increasing Foundation. On the week of Disney, the final event of the end of season series, it is believed that Tiger will be spending valued time with his two young children. These are both ocasions that will have been set in the calender most likely well before Atlanta and his failure to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. So, with all that in mind, we will only see Tiger in action on 4 occasions during the remainder of this year. This week of course, twice in Australia, and for his own event, the Chevron World Challenge in December. This is exactly why Tiger's latest return here cannot and should not be evaluated as a true comeback. Whether you're Tiger Woods, or a 20 handicapper, you cannot truly get into a fully consistent competitive mode over such a small period of time playing in so few events. It's just not possible, and Tiger will know this himself. He'll see the remainder of 2011 as a way to illustrate how far he has come on since August, and to go into the crucial 2012 season with some positive momentum. A return to the top 50 would be welcome, but it's not at all imperative. That is why if anyone wants to accurately judge where Tiger's career is, and where it'll go, then they should wait, not until the close of of play at the Chevron, but during the 2012 season. That will be the true comeback.

Tiger is fit and prepared

Even with all that noted, it must be said that poor play during these 4 events would, perhaps not be a disaster for Woods, but would represent another setback in a season that has been riddled with them. A strong performance, getting into contention, or perhaps even a win would be an excellent confidence boost for Tiger going into the 2012 season, which is now without question the most crucial of his career. Success this week, and more importantly into the future requires one important factor to remain solid and stable, and that is his fitness. After injuring his left leg at Augusta in April, and then further aggravating that injury at The PLAYERS, Tiger wisely took time off to fully recover. Having just been declared by his Doctors fully fit, he came back in August for the Bridgestone and then the PGA, perhaps a little too soon. He'll go into Thursday's opening round with the leg as solid as it has been in years, and with 3 months of solid practice behind him. Something that he crucially did not have the luxury of in August. A fact that he acknowledged at Wednesday's pre tournament press conference. “I’ve had a chance to prepare, and then obviously after this event, I’ve got a few more weeks before I play in the Aussie Open. So that’s more how I’d like to prepare and practice and play in events. So I’m getting back to my normal routine.”

The fitness is the one thing that would definitely hold Tiger back from returning to the top of the game. It's an issue he positvely claims isn't a factor anymore, and with signifcant practice time over this fall and winter, something that he didn't have during almost all of this year, he will have the chance to put together a strong and consistent golf game again under the tutelage of Sean Foley. Whether that turns out to be the case this week, or in those to come, is another thing altogether. We won't get the answers about the status of Tiger's career at CordeValle or during his trip to Australia. We may get little hints at most, but we will simply not be able to accurately evaluate what the status of Tiger Woods is in golf, until the fall of 2012.

For Tiger, it's still a work in progress.

The FedEx Cup needs a change. But has anyone got an alternative plan?

After enjoying the enthralling climax of the Solheim Cup on Sunday, was the final round of the Tour Championship, the culmination of the 'Season Long Race for the Fed Ex Cup' able to draw in the golfing public? The simple answer is no. The final round in Atlanta had a 1.4 rating on NBC, so there is the evidence if it was ever needed that the FedEx Cup neither generates significant interest or anticipation for most. But why is that? Yes, we have to take into account strongly the draw of the American Football Season. It will almost always draw the casual golf viewer away from an event, and that's not going to change, without a dramatic cultural shift the US. However, to counter the force of the NFL, you have to offer the very best product you can. The Playoff Series in its current guise doesn't fit that billing. To offer some context, everyone seems to be in agreement that the format of the Playoffs is in need of some amending. Most seem to agree that Bill Haas, coming into East Lake ranked 25th in the Standings, being crowned the FedEx Cup Champion, a title awarded to the apparent season long champion, just on the basis that he had won one event in 2011, the Tour Championship, was completely absurd.

The Fed Ex Cup isn't yet a credible trophy, and it doesn't generate significant interest. But what can be done about it? In order to properly evaluate that question, you have to firstly look and acknowledge the improvements that the Playoffs have offered.

For many the Golf season ends in August with the conclusion of the PGA Championship. The FedEx Cup was introduced in 2007 in order to offer 'meaningful' golf for an extended period after August. Has the Series generated that 'meaningful' extension to the season yet? For many, probably not. However, it is significantly better than what we had before. Pre 2007 the Tour Championship was played in November believe it or not, when the players battled it out for the Tour Season Money List, which by definition was won more often than not during the season. In fact, the Tour Championship was so bland and 'meaningless' that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson didn't even bother to play it in 2006. The Fed Ex Cup addressed those issues, not perfectly, but it addressed them nonetheless. Agree with it or not, and few do, the current points system does generate excitement as we saw during Sunday's dramatic playoff or in 2010 when Jim Furyk just pipped Luke Donald after a thrilling back nine. When you compare the Tour Championship from then to what we have now, no one could honestly or realistically deny that it is not an improvement.

But it still is far from perfect. The points system has been changed twice, perhaps soon to be thrice during this winter. Neither of these changes have offered the absolute solution to the problem. But at least they are willing to adapt. For it to work, the points system needs to be respected. It needs to find the balance between maximum volatility during the Playoff Series, and credibility by offering a points system which properly awards strong play throughout the season and Major Championships. As you can see below, the current system does not balance points at all fairly or intelligently. For a Playoff  win to count 5 times that of  Major is frankly ludicrous and won't be taken seriously be anyone, player or fan. Also, you mustn't forget the Tour Championship Points Reset which is introduced irrespective of a players points total.

(Current Fed Ex Cup Points System)

POSITION	REGULAR	WGC’s	MAJORS (Players)	PLAYOFFS
1	500	550	600	2,500
2	300	315	330	1,500
3	190	200	210	1,000
4	135	140	150	750
5	110	115	120	550
6	100	105	110	500
7	90	95	100	450
8	85	89	94	425
9	80	83	88	400
10	75	78	82	375

The positives and indeed failures of the FedEx Cup have been laid it for you, so the next question must be, what's my alternative? Well, this is what I would do.

1. Remove the Tour Championship Points Reset. 
2. Majors would receive equal points as Playoff Events
3. Majors/Playoffs would receive DOUBLE the points of a Regular Season Event (Not 5 times)
4. WGC's/Players Championship would recieve increase by 50% of the corresponding Regular Total.
5. Consider Reducing the Series to 3 events, final event having a field of 60.

 (Alternative Plan)
 

POSITION	REGULAR	WGC’s/PLAYERS	MAJORS	PLAYOFFS
1	500	750	1000	1000
2	300	450	600	600
3	190	280	380	380
4	135	205	270	270
5	110	165	220	220
6	100	150	200	200
7	90	135	180	180
8	85	125	170	170
9	80	120	160	160
10	75	112	150	150

The actual number of points awarded isn't important, as long as the system is balanced in this way. If the format was changed to this style the FedEx Cup would be more relevant during the season as:

1.  Tour wins would be awarded more fairly going into the Playoff Series. 
2.  Major Championship wins would get the recognition that the fans rightly feel they should.
3.  Volatility is still high during the Playoffs but not to an excessive rate where it becomes a farce. 

 The Fed Ex Cup will only become a true success when the trophy is deemed worthy. The $10 Million prize is irrelevant to people watching. Seeing already wealthy players become even more wealthy isn't a particularly endearing idea to the public, and certainly won't entice people to tune in. The FedEx Cup needs to find that credibility, and with a points system that rewards players who play exceptionally well during the regular season, also giving winners of Major Championships, those who the general public will be aware of, a strong advantage going into the Playoffs, will naturally allow that credibility to develop. With points still high for the Playoff series, with exceptional play, someone coming from way down in the rankings can still find themselves with a chance of winning the Cup. The volatility will still exist, but not at the farcical level that saw Bill Haas come from nowhere and win the entire thing, even to his own surprise. Some might argue against this and refer to Vijay Singh in 2008 But that situation only happened because that the points totals were massive and not at all balanced correctly. Under this system, Vijay could still have been caught going into the 2008 Tour Championship.


Titles and events in Golf develop over time when they grow in lore and in credibility. Over time the public will naturally become more in tune with its format, but only if it is allowed to create its own credilibty by awarding the right players, being relevent throughout the season, and becoming a title that truly means something. 


IF it adopts that message, the FedEx Cup might actually become the exciting season extender that it promised to be.

The much hyped Rickie Fowler has fallen behind his fellow American 20 somethings who have done recent damage.

Many were of the opinion that American golf was in a slump. With the rise of the Europeans in the major championships and world rankings, in addition to the dramatic demise of Tiger Woods as a competitive force, as well as a dominant Europe in the Ryder Cup, many observers would feel validated in their evaluation that golf in the United States was suffering from a recession akin that of which the nations economy is enduring. But when you look closely and avoid these soundbites, was US golf really in a 'slump'. Relatively speaking when you look back at American sporting dominance, it probably was. But rather than a slump, US golf merely needed a shot in the arm, a boost, and to discover an injection of new blood. And it has now found the required remedy.

Late Summer was a very positive period for the PGA Tour. With the Tour wins of Scott Stallings at the Greenbrier, Dustin Johnson, at the Barclays, Keegan Bradley at the PGA, ending the US Major 'drought', and most recently Webb Simpson, whose two wins at the Whyndam and Deutsche Bank, have all come together and injected an almost momentus quantity of new, winning blood into US Golf, which it certainly needed.

Rickie Fowler is still waiting for his breakthrough

However, these new American protagonists don't include in their number, the one player, christened by the media as the next big star of American Golf. Oklahoma State University graduate, Rickie Fowler. The Californian's arrival full time to the PGA Tour in 2010 was heavily anticipated by an expectant golfing media, which had been increasingly desperate to move on from the damaging Tiger Woods 'scandal'. Fowler, who sat at the summit of the World Amateur rankings for 36 weeks, made his name known during the Fall of 2009 in which he finished finished 7th and 2nd in his first two events. The media and the Tour quickly jumped on the Fowler bandwagon. His ready smile, star looks and aggresive golf game made him the perfect player to market going into 2010 and the future. An impressive rookie season followed during which he finished 2nd twice as well as accounting 7 top tens. Perhaps the most crowning achievement was his appearance in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, when on the Monday singles he birdied the final 4 holes to halve his match with Edoardo Molinari for a crucial half point that kept the US team in the contest. However, for many, a winless season did not live up to the hype and expectation that had been placed on Fowler's young shoulders. As 2011 got underway, the unhelpful comparisons with Rory McIlroy continued, as Rickie has so far went on to have a dissapointing second season. A 5th place at the Open and a 2nd at the Bridgestone are the only bright spots in a season during which he hasn't progressed, and moving into this weeks BMW, the 3rd Playoff of the FedEx Cup, Rickie is fledgling outside the top 30 in the points list.

But has Rickie been a unfulfilled talent or was it simply the case of a media jumping on the bandwagon and putting all their focus onto a young player untested under the most extreme pressure?

In reality it's a little of the two. Rickie is undoubtedely a very talented player. A raw talent certainly, but a talented individual nonetheless. He is aggressive on the course, exciting to watch, and is often unpredictible. But to look briefly into the statistics, it is quite evident to see where he has struggled. On a Sunday, under final day pressure in the heat of a Championship chase. Rickie is 106th in final day performance, as he has only improved or maintaned his position on a leaderboard 52.94% of the time. To put that into perspective, Luke Donald has improved his day final position on 92% of occasions in 2011, so you can see how far Rickie is behind in becoming a force in the game, and where his greatest problem lies. But why has Rickie struggled more often than not in the final rounds?

As I mentioned earlier, it certainly isn't a lack of talent, however, his swing is extremely unorthodox (see above). Which is fine, it's his swing. However, it is a pure feel swing with a huge layoff and change of direction on the backswing, which relys soley on his talent and rhythm. He needs to be 100% on his game for that swing to work, and often when you are under pressure you naturally lose your rhythm slightly, due to nerves or uncertainty, and that in itself has a destructive influence on Rickie Fowler's swing. Yes, you can count of many examples of players with unusual swings winning tournaments and major championships, Jim Furyk or Raymond Floyd come immiediately to mind. However, they both learned how to manage their swing under pressure. Rickie hasn't done so yet, and until he finds that assurance under pressure, he will continue to struggle more often than not during a final round.

To many, Rickie Fowler is already a star.

 But he is young. Yes he has fallen short of what many expected of him, but he's only 22 years old. Eventually he will cross the line as his talent will dictate, and over time he will manage his game, both his swing and decision making, a lot better when under pressure. However, this is when the media hype is unhelpful. Rickie has a very easy going personality, perhaps too much to be successful on a golf course. But on the flip side, that personality, which is his greatest appeal, has allowed him to undertake the media demands and pressure placed upon him with gentlemanly class, which is a testemant to him. But deep down, the constant attention must be a distraction. Perhaps now, with the shift towards the likes of Keegan Bradley,  Rickie will find more comfort and stability in his early career, as he would then be able to focus on his game, both on and off the course, allowing him to progress slightly under the radar and achieve the success that he is almost certainly capable of. Rickie was thrust directly into the limelight when he turned Professional, and like Rory McIlroy, who initially struggled to find his way, the media attention will decrease as more succesful players take the spotlight. Rickie Fowler faced the unenviable task of being  forced by the media to carry a degree of the spotlight that was left behind by Tiger Woods. No rookie player, no matter how talented and likeable they may be, should have that immediate pressure and attention on them in what it is a difficult transitional process on Tour. Rickie will win tournaments, and he may very well win major championships, but until he crosses that line, the media should back off a little and allow him to find his way, rather than prematurely declare him a star, and allow Rickie Fowler himself to earn his own spotlight.

The FedEx Cup Playoff Series. Does it generate the excitement and posses the prestige that the hype would suggest?

In years gone by, the conclusion of the PGA Championship in August signalled the end of the golfing season for many players and fans. With only the Ryder Cup generating some real interest biennially, for all practical purposes, the mainstream golfing audiences went into hibernation during the early fall. Was there a solution to that problem? Well, by November 2005 PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem believed he had discovered it.

Have Tim Finchem's hopes been met?

Finchem announced the future implementation of a season long points system, based on that from NASCAR, which would determine the Champion of that particular year. The Commissioner boldly declared that "the FedExCup and first-ever playoff system on the PGA TOUR will truly usher in an exciting new era in golf, and establish a new measurement of success and will be fair, meaningful and provide excitement throughout the year." The hypothesis was fairly simple. Throughout the regular season Tour players would earn points, in addition to earnings, during 'regular season' tournaments, and would have to achieve a particular ranking in order to qualify for the season ending Playoff events. During these Playoff events the number of players qualifiying to the next week would decrease as players would effectively be eliminated depending on their Points ranking. A greater number of points would be made available during the Playoffs to generate as much excitement and volatility as possible. Finally, after three Playoff events, the surviving top 30 in the points would progress onto East Lake for the traditional season ending Tour Championship, after which the leader of the Points list would be crowned the FedEx Cup Champion, going along with it the accolade as that season's champion, a 5 year Tour exemption, and not to mention, a rather hefty $10Million bonus.

Tiger Woods Fed Ex Cup Champion 2007

There was incredible hype in the lead up to the first FedEx Cup season, and that hype continues to this day. With the PGA Tour website constantly referencing the latest points standings, and including a number of commercials and interviews mostly containing Tour players discussing how important the FedEx Cup is "to them" from the very first week of the season in Hawaii. The question for Tim Finchem, the Tour, its affiliated TV partners and most importantly the fans is, does the Fed Ex Cup, in its 5th season, have the Commissioners original hopes been met? Is the FedEx Cup fair, meaningful and does it provide excitement throughout the year?

The simple answer is, no. Most mainstream golf fans in America will tell you that the 'meaningful' golf season ends after the PGA Championship, and attention is diverted to the major fall sports in America. Especially the NFL and College Football. But to offer such a simple conclusion to the question would be unfair to the FedEx Cup, which is undoubtedly a very interesting and creative initiative, if flawed it may be in some areas. Why doesn't it create that excitement which Finchem desired, or the prestige that the Tour wishes to present it as having?

The irregularities in the points system have certainly not helped the FedEx Cup cement itself as a meaningful addition to the professional golf calender. After the first season changes were made to add more volatility and potential movement during the playoff events themselves. Points were reset tigher together and more points were made available during the playoff events. These changes didn't create the desired effect that the Tour wanted, as Vijay Singh's runaway victory during the 2008 playoffs turned the FedEx Cup into an anti-climax. To combat a player ever being able to win the FedEx Cup before the Tour Championship even gets underway, the Tour made another set of changes to the points system. The changes made for the 2009 season, which remain to this day, ensured that any of the 30 players in the Tour Championship had a chance to win the FedEx Cup, but with all of the top five players assured of winning the FedEx Cup by winning the final event. The constant changes to the system certainly didn't help endear the FedEx Cup to the golfing public, who are generally keeping at least a slim interest in the World Rankings and Ryder Cup points. But the PGA Tour seems to have finally settled on this system, which is a good thing, and has certainly kept the race going until the final putt is sunk at East Lake. However, some still question the merits of a points system that supposedly crowns the 'season' champion, when effectively a player can become Champion based just on his performances during those four Playoff events. The Tour still has not found a balance in the points system. Yes, they have generated maximum volatility during the Playoffs, however, until the balance is tilted more in the favour of those who play well during the regular season and the Major Championships, which it isn't currently, then the FedEx Cup will not ever find itself as being a credible judge of the season long Champion. It's prestige will never grow and ultimately the interest and excitement generated by the series throughout the season won't increase either.

Vijay's runaway win in 2008 caused the PGA Tour a few headaches

 However, the FedEx Cup system was an innovative notion, and it continues to have great potential as being both a ratings winner, and becoming a very prestigious title. Unlike the Race to Dubai on the European Tour, which is nothing more than a hopeless commercial rebranding, the FedEx Cup has a chance of becoming truly relevant. Yes, as the series developes longevitity then its position in the golfing calender will become more noteworthy as the history and prestige of the event will naturally develop. The Series will also grow in stature  if the points system is amended (I will offer detailed proposals in my next blog), as at present the points system isn't as important or prominent as it should be during the regular season and for the Major Championships. The balance between generating volatility and excitement during the Playoffs and offering a bigger advantage to those who have played well throughout the season and won tournaments, hasn't quite been found yet. When that balance is finally implemented and with the natural passing of time, the FedEx Cup will generate more excitement and prestige in the future.

But at the moment, for a great many people, the season still ends in August.

The 93rd PGA Championship is poised to have a fascinating climax, but an apathetic media doesn't seem to think so.

Well, here we are. The Sunday of the 93rd PGA Championship, the final chance of Major Glory for the world best players in 2011. However, the protagonists of this final round are unexpected to say the least.

28 year old Brendan Steele, the winner of this years Valero Texas Open, is one of only two players to have shot every round in the 60s, and has the 54 hole lead going into the final round alongside the aptly named Jason Dufner. The 34 year old Dufner, born in Cleveland, Ohio, looked completely unflappable as he, in the words of Graeme McDowell, 'sauntered' around the course. Dufner, who has drawn attention for his pre shot 'waggle' is a solid swinger, and his round of 68 was a strong retort to those who suspected that he would collapse under the pressure of a Major Championship. The same can be said for the talented Keegan Bradley, who won the Byron Nelson at the end of May. After a double bogey start, many observers fancied that the 25 year old would fall away out of all relevancy in this Championship. However, he battled back strongly and completed a fantastic round of 69 to keep him right in the hunt. This group of apparently unherelded Americans are ahead of veterans Scott Verplank and Steve Stricker, with the likes of Adam Scott, Masters Champion, Charl Schwartzel, 2001 PGA Champion David Toms, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald all with an outside chance of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy this evening.

Brendan Steele could be on a walk to destiny

You would have thought that this collection of interesting plotlines would have provided the mainstream golfing media with plenty of creative ammunition going into the final day of this PGA Championship. But apparently they disagree.

Golfing Journalists and commentators, European and American like, constantly belittled the 'quality' of Leaderboard yesterday. Declaring it the 'Worst Major leaderboard ever' and that this Championship was a 'snoozefest'. The television coverage from CBS was at best sluggish, and the attitude from almost everyone involved with the golfing media was disrespectful to the players at the summit of this leaderboard who have tackled this supremely difficult and controversial Atlanta Athletic Club setup in admirable fashion. Yes, this leaderboard may 'lack' the 'star power' that often helps to bring in higher television audiences, so the Producers at CBS can at least be excused for being slightly dissapointed. But the leaderboard is what it is, and the commentators and producers have to sell the quality of golf and the players that are involed in it. For certain journalists to comment that this leaderboard is the 'golf writers worst nightmare' is a completely pathetic and disrespectful attitude to take from indviduals paid to write about the professional game. Yes, the names at the top maybe aren't what the journalists want to write about, but it is up to them to use their creative talents to market the excellent product that these players have and will continue to offer us. Golf is as competitive as it has ever been, there are so many great young players these days not afraid to win, and the 'writers' should stop being lazy, do their research into new names and uncover the fascinating stories beyond these relatively unknown players.

Jason Dufner has earned a new legion of fans this week

If they can't come up with anything interesting about these contenders then they are simply in the wrong line of work, because this leaderboard is packed with fantastic plotlines.

Keegan Bradley is living the dream

The United States has its best chance in a while to end its Major drought. The players at the top aren't the big stars that were expected to end it, but represent an increasing new breed of talent. Brendan Steele, won his first PGA Tour event earlier this year in Texas, one of 10 rookies so far in 2011 to do so. At 28, he has taken a while to finally establish himself on the PGA Tour, but a win for Steele, a 2010 Nationwide Tour Graduate, would offer great encouragement to American Golf, which has been so unfairly betlittled in recent years by the media. A similar story for Keegan Bradley, who at 3 years Steele's junior, won his rookie title at the Byron Nelson. Bradley has a great personality, is highly likeable, and genuinely believes that he is living the dream out on Tour. The nephew of 6 time LPGA Tour Major winner, Pat Bradley, a win for Keegan would be a remarkable story for the Bradley family, and a new American star would be born. Jason Dufner is the senior of this trio, at 34 and so far without a win on the PGA Tour. Dufner has battled twice on the Nationwide in order to establish himself on the PGA Tour and has become a solid contender in recent times. He came close to a win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, only a playoff defeat to Mark Wilson prevented Dufner from claiming his first Tour title. The known friend of Vijay Singh, has a great swing and an apparently unflappable demeanour and will be hard to beat today in Atlanta. Further back you have stories of a completely different nature. Scott Verplank and Steve Stricker, two veterans looking to claim their first Major Championship. Verplank, one of the most decorated amateurs during the 1980s, famousely won on the PGA Tour at the Western Open as an amateur in 1985. Scott has almost had two different careers, having won a futher event in 1988 before a 12 year drought saw him win the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2000. Verplank, a twice Ryder Cup player, was certainly capable of winning more tournaments, but has been held back by his diabetes, for which he wears an insulin pump during play, and wrist problems. At 47, a win for Scott Verplank, one of the most liakable and inspirational players on the Tour would be a fairytale victory. The same can be said for Steve Stricker, who has battled back from the lowest reaches of the game to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award on two occasions. Steve has won 8 times in his 40s and a Major Championship victory would represent the pinacle of what has been a truly remarkable career for this popular and often emotional Wisconsin man who was favoured by many to contend this week. 

Verplank looking at a fairytale win?

Those are the Major stories, but do not discount David Toms, 10 years on after his PGA win here at Atlanta Athletic Club, has quite remarkably shown that the saying horses for courses is relevant in the modern game, and it would be another popular and historic achievement for the 45 year old, who has enjoyed a career renaissance in 2011. Adam Scott, with Stevie Williams on the bag, is looking to win a Major that his talents so merit and complete a Bridgestone-PGA double that only Tiger Woods has previously achieved. The Masters Champion, Charl Schwartzel will be looking to upstage the Americans for a second Major within the calender year, along with Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, the worlds two leading players, both 6 shots behind the lead going into the final round looking to stage a remarkable come from behind win.

Boring? Mundane? A Golf writers nightmare? Everything this 93rd PGA Championship is not, and shouldn't be, as it will be a truly fascinating climax. I just wish the blinkered media would accept that.

Enjoy the final round of the 2011 Major Championship season!

Tiger leaves Atlanta early a broken figure, as he looks to find a solution on how to put together the broken pieces of his game.

36 holes into what has been a fascinating 93rd PGA Championship. From Steve Stricker's brilliant opening round of 63, Rory McIlroy's injured wrist and his subsequent decision to play through the pain barrier, and the collection of unexpected names at the halfway summit, there have been many intriguing stories at this PGA. However, none more so have been generated more intrigue and questions than that of Tiger Woods' disastrous performance in Atlanta.

Tiger has produced his most humbling performance ever in a Major Championship. After a fine start on Thursday under the sweltering Atlanta sun, where he birdied 3 of his first 5 holes, Woods completely imploded. Double Bogey's on 15 and 18 (his 6th and 9th holes) set him on course to a truly humilating front nine, where he looked have completely no control on the golf ball, as he came home in a +5 total of 40. Thursday's round of 77 was the highest Tiger has ever shot in a 1st round of any Major Championship, and his highest ever in the PGA. He frustratedly stated that after his fine start:  "I figured I could let it go and play through instinct and feel, but screwed up the whole round," He went on to say "I'm not at that point yet. I started fighting it and couldn't get it back. It's very frustrating."

Tiger cut a broken figure in Atlanta

With the 36 hole Cut likely to fall at +4, Tiger would have known that a 67 was the minimum 2nd round that he required. He got closer to that number than he did on the previous day, but it was a mere 73. A 3 over round which included two double bogey's, four birdies and a further 3 birdies. But even more noteworthy than the inconsistent scores was the manner he created them. Missing fairways left and right on occasions, finding a total of 22 bunkers during his 36 holes played, and a further four water hazards, this was a Tiger with absolutely no control of his game. Many will cite his lack of match practice and his swing changes not being fully embedded, but at the moment the simple fundamentals which we all have to adhere to in order to play at our best, are not been implemented by Tiger at the moment. Thankfully for him, he has an unimaginable level of talent and was still able to pull some shots off. But at the moment, in his current state of mind and game he will not be able to progress.

Where does he go from here?

 Tiger will be heading back to Florida with an even more shattered level of confidence with the weight of a 36 hole total of +10 on his mind wondering where he goes from here. That will also be the question amongst the golf commentators, journalists and fans. Some have simply stated that Tiger is "finished", "toasted", "done", while many others are looking at a more pragmatic solution to his problems. With the regular PGA Tour season coming to a close, and Tiger not in a position to play in the FedEX Cup Playoff events beginning later this month, some have argued that Tiger should play some European Tour events to find his game and confidence. An interesting idea, but of course he won't even consider to do this. At the moment his next confirmed event is the Australian Open on November 10th-13th, and he is also exempt to play the HSBC Champions Event in Shanghai the week before. That's 2 months away from now, but will he be seen in the States before his usual new year appearance at Torrey Pines in late January? His agent Mark Steinberg said today that playing in one of the PGA Tour's 'Fall Series' events is something that they will look into. He has 41 days to enter the first of these events, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Open, so ample thinking time. Personally, I don't think the American golf fans can expect to see Woods in one of their competitions until 2012.

Davis Love III must be wondering where Tiger's game will be in 2012

 On the subject of the United States, the Presidents Cup takes place at Royal Melbourne the week after the Australian Open, which Woods is entered in. Will US Captain Fred Couples, a known friend of Tiger, give the broken 35 year old a place on his team? Couples has stated all year that he will exercise one of his Captain picks in the favour of Woods, but surely some doubt has to enter the 1992 Masters Champion's head of picking a player so evidently short of all confidence and any form. Although it may seem against sensible logic, Couples will likely keep to his word and offer Tiger a place on the team. Of course, whether Woods actually accepts that offer is another issue altogether, and would depend largely on how his game feels.

The problems for Woods are both technical and physcological. This is a man who during the last 20 months has seen his aura of invinciblity on both the golf course and personal life destroyed. Yes, largely at his own hands, but that must have left deep scars to Tigers formerly indestructible self belief. Trying to embed his latest swing changes while overcoming his injury problems has also been an unenviable task. He still hasn't found this new swing, and that is why I don't believe that Tournament play in the spotlight is the best thing for him at the moment. He came back too early from injury at the Players and he has now come back too early for his golf game at the Bridgestone and PGA, and he must surely be considering now to shut down for the rest of the year. Some may call that cowardly, and that he needs the game time to find his ability to play back again, but I believe that Tiger needs to spend the winter at home, on the range, playing fun practice rounds trying to restore the sound fundamentals in his golf game that any player needs to perform at their potential best. Now he is fully fit from injury, and Tiger did on Friday evening cite that as the one positive from this past fortnight, Woods can spend this fall and winter working on his game and preparing for a full comeback next year rather than resting injuries or overcoming a divorce. The fitness was the key question for Woods this fortnight, and it is the one thing that has passed the test, and he should, and will take heart from that fact.

Tiger needs to come out for 2012 fresh and ready to compete for Championships again. Augusta will be his target, he has almost 8 months to prepare for that. It'll be up to him on what the best strategy to achieve that will be. We have all cited our theories on what he should do, but ultimately the decision falls upon him on the best way to ready himself for the next season, as 2012 will really be the make or break year for Tiger Woods.

The PGA Championship is often referred to as 'Glory's Last Shot', a slogan that now for Lee Westwood has ever more added poignancy

The eyes of the golfing world will follow upon Atlanta, Georgia this week, specifically the Atlanta Athletic Club, as the 93rd PGA Championship, the final major of the golfing season, moves into town.

The headlines going into this week will focus on the continuing aftermath to the rather acrimonious split of Tiger Woods and Steve Williams. The chances of Rory McIlroy will also be closely scrutinised upon, as he looks to capatalise on his strong performance at the Bridgestone Invitational, into a quickfire 2nd Major title, following his historic US Open triumph at Congressional. And finally, also the chances of the aforementioned Woods, looking to mark his comeback with a dramatic and shock 5th PGA title, and a 15th Major Championship win. But to many, especially on the European and British side of the 'pond', the saga of Lee Westwood's quest to be crowned a Major Champion will be the greatest focus this week.

Westwood found success early in his career

The PGA Championship has in recent times developed the nickname of 'Glory's Last Shot', a play on the fact that it will be a golfers final chance of Major glory before the following years Masters Tournament in April. However, for Lee Westwood, that slogan is starting to develop an ironic poignancy, as he begins to enter the late Summer of his career. Westwood has rightly earned his place as one of the worlds most successful and consistent golfers. 21 European Tour titles, two Order of Merit titles, including the inaugural Race to Dubai in 2009, attest to that fact. Also include his impressive Ryder Cup record, and his attainment of the World Number One position in the October of 2010, the first Englishmen since Nick Faldo to reach the summit. Westwood has to be seen as one of the most consistent forces in the last decade of the game. Yes, he went through his tough times, where he fell towards the lowly position of 200th in the world in 2002. But he has bounced back, and during the last 3 years, has undoubtedly been the worlds best, most consistent player. But what is missing in Westwoods impressive list of achievements, is the one thing that cements a player in history. A Major Championship. 

The King of Dubai in 2009

He has come very close in recent times, frustratingly close in fact. The closest occasions were undoubtedly at Turnberry in 2009 and at Augusta 9 months later. On the Ayrshire Coast, an event that will be forever remembered for Tom Watson's near fairytale victory, Westwood 3 putted the 72nd to miss the resulting playoff by 1 shot. Yes, the records will say his best finish so far in an Open was the 2nd to Louis Oosthuizen at St Andrews last year, but that was a very distant second. At Augusta last year, having played brilliantly all week, Lee went into Masters Sunday with a 1 stroke lead, but was overtaken by an inspired Phil Mickelson, who went on to claim an emotional third Green Jacket. Some would say that Westwood just hasn't quite had the luck or the breaks required yet to claim a Major Championship But the Worksop man realises there is more to it than that as he looks ahead to this weeks PGA in order to remove the title that has been planted up on him. As the best player yet to have won a Major Championship.

Congratulating Mickelson at Augusta in 2010

That title belonged to Davis Love III in the early 90s, then onto Phil Mickelson until 2004, and since then it has been thrown about between Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. With Monty's career all but finished, Westwood's age and consistency has seen him take that 'title' ahead of Garcia. Is Lee willing to take it to heart that so far he has been 'unluckly' and that his time will come? No, this 38 year old realises that he has to make his own luck. In comments to the Guardian, Westwood said: "I'm sure you need breaks in any tournaments, not just majors, but I think if you get to a certain level and play well enough then you can eradicate luck to a certain extent."
Lee has went out his way to achieve an even greater level of play in order to give himself that chance this week in Atlanta.


Following his dissapointing missed cut at the Open in July, during which he led the greens in regulation stats, Westwood went out his way to find a method of improving his fortunes with the putter. Working with famed sports physcologist Dr Bob Rotella, who has given great help to many players, Westwood's attitude was in a far better place at the WGC in Akron. Since working recently with Rotella, Lee seems more settled with his game than he was a month ago, and that is an ominous sign to those in this weeks PGA field. Confidently telling the Independent's James Corrigan, Lee noted that: "This weekend is the best I have ever played tee to green," he said, after a final round of 65: "It was that good. I could have been standing here with two 62s."
Westwood is going into this weeks PGA Championship a much more confident and dangerous player than the one who turned up in Kent last month.

"I could have had two 62s" A confident Lee Westwood heads to Atlanta

But of course, it must be stated, that even if Westwood does not lift the Wanamaker Trophy this Sunday, he'll still have more chances. At 38 he still has many good years ahead, as his good friend Darren Clarke proved last month at 42, you can still win at that stage of your career. However, as much as he still has potential for another 6 or 7 years of consistently superb golf, if he does not win one soon, it will very soon be 4 years left, then 2 years, and before you realise it, your time is up. The clock is slowly ticking for Lee, but even if he doesn't win a Major, his career will still be nothing but stellar. Could the likes of Todd Hamilton, Rich Beem or Larry Mize claim to have had better careers than Lee? Of course they realistically couldn't, but a Major would be the perfect icing to add on to the already tasty cake, that is the career of Lee Westwood.

A confident and calm Westwood moves into Atlanta, with one goal in mind, and I think that he might just go on and do it.