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.