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.