So the PGA Tour has officially finished for the year and we now go into the FedEx Play-offs to find out who will basically walk away with a cool $10,000,000's and the title of FedEx Champion. Very nice work if you can get it. And get it is the problem really. The way they work is a bit misleading as they are to show the golfing world who was the most successful, consistent and best golfer of the year, but it dosnt quiet work out like that... The ranking points a golfer picks up in the regular season all adds up to giving the player his total FedEx ranking position, and where he to finish in the top 125 then he gets his chance of winning the rankings and a shed load of money. Tiger Woods is currently sat top of the pile, mainly because of his 3 tour victories, and has amassed just over 2,200 points. But if Jason Bohn, who is ranked 125 on the list won 3 out of the next 3 tournaments he would amass 7,500 points and be crowned winner because you are awarded so many more points in these final four tournaments that the final table can look a bit distorted... So no one in the top 125 is technically out of winning the $10m's... Anyway to have a chance of winning this you have to negotiate four different venues and end up with the most FedEx points to collect the title and $10m in prize money. First you have to get through The Barclays @ Bethpage, then The Deutsche Bank @ Boston. Followed by a trip to the wonderfully titled course of Crooked Stick in Indiana for the BMW Championship and a final challenge at the Tour finale The Coca-Cola Championships @ East Lake in Atlanta... Finish in the top 100 after Bethpage and you move on, top 75 at Boston gets you to the BMW in Indiana with a top 30 position a chance at East Lake and a crack at the title and prize money... So its to The Barclays and a trip to Bethpage States for the first installment in the 4 course challenge, and its a great course to start with. Bethpage Black - there are five courses, all with colours in the title with their own difficulty rating - is a monster in every department even for the pro golfers. The sign on the first tee is daunting in itself, 'Warning - The Black course is an extremely difficult course, which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers'... So be warned...!!! Finding a winner isnt as easy as i first thought, like it is in the first place, as you dont have to win to progress. So some golfers will just look at the field see where they are, and if they are making the cut, will be happy to progress through to the next tournamant. Some players will go out to win and gain the extra points needed to finish at the top of the rankings but some will be happy to gain top 10's and move on. So im looking for players who like the course first and have a shout of getting through to the last tournament in East Lake... Phil Mickleson played well here the last time this course held the US Open back in 2009, and it made a big, big impression on him. In finishing T2nd he was amazed with the course, fans and the ability to have to be creative and make shots all around the golf course. He was even quoted that Bethpage would make a great Ryder Cup venue as the fans get in your face and really back you when your playing well. So hopefully the feel good factor he has for the course can help him step up and get something out of a poor season by his standards... Ian Poulter is the type of player who thrives on the big stage and can raise his game accordingly. 7th at the Masters, T9th at the Open and T3rd at the PGA shows he can compete in the buisness end of a major tournament. If he gets the buzz of the locals and gets his game in order he can go well here. He is 55th on the FedEx and so will have to gain good points somewhere along the way to get a chance at the final tournament... Tim Clark is coming into the FedEx right bang in form. Finishing 2nd to Sergio this week i hope he can carry his form through into this. I would have picked Sergio but i think the back to back win thing goes against him. Plus Clark has finished 2nd, T15th and T11th in his last three starts. Currently sits 54th in the rankings and is making his move up the stats charts. Driving accuracy has risen to a season high 4th coupled with his approach play from 125-150 yards, 3rd, and from 150-175 he ranks 1st. His putting could do to improve but at least he gives himself every opportunity... Zach Johnson has had a quiet time of it really in the last 3-4 tournaments but i do think that he can step up here and improve his points tally and position of 4th in the Fedex. This makes him one of the players who could go all the way and win the Fedex Millions... Phil Mickleson @ 33/1... Ian Poulter @ 45/1... Tim Clark @ 50/1... Zach Johnson @ 66/1... All done with the usual £2.5 e/w... PadPow pays 1/4 top 5... Good luck if you play...
I have to stick with my usual goflers - I would hate to back against them, then they romp in! So: Keegan Bradley 28/1 Louis Oosthuizen 33/1 Rickie Fowler 60/1 (Who really needs to up his game to attract the attention of Davis Love!) Geoff Ogilvy 66/1 goodluck all!
What are the other tournaments in the PGA Tour schedule? I've added the The 2012 FedExCup Playoffs Guidebook to the Index
Ron these next 4 tournaments are the culmination of the golfing season according to the PGA, to find out who can come top of the FedEx standings, and win $10m. After these tournaments most of the golfers take a break, although there are some events that will be played, they will not take in the big named golfers. There are no Fedex Points awarded in these events either as the points awarded will not start again until next year in January 2013. After the Tour Championship on September 20th-23rd the only event left will be the Ryder Cup, and after that i wont be betting on the golf until next year... Thanks for your admin on the index thread Ron, much appreciated...
No problem Red. Thanks for the education. PS Sorry I missed the Play-offs from the schedule (didn't notice until just now). Now added.
Leader Board after the 1st round Leader - P. Harrington, -7... T8 - R. Fowler, -4 .......... smokin T14 - P. Mickelson, -3 .... red - Z. Johnson, -3 ...... red - I, Poulter, -3 ........ red T35 - T. Clark, -1 .......... red - L. Oosthuizen, -1... smokin - G. Ogilvy, -1 ........ smokin T52 - K. Bradley, E ........ smokin So nick nack paddy whack shot a low round... The return to form for Paddy Harrington must be a god send for him in the opening tournament of the Fedex here at Bethpage. He has flirted with shooting low and competing in the big tournaments this year and this will give his confidence a real big boost for the rest of them. The one thing that has let him down has been the putter on one of the four rounds. Its something he has struggled with this year, he is ranked 152 in total putting on the tour. But he can hang around in this as many of the players will be happy just to get through and hopefully make the last 30 in 3 weeks time... As for our picks its steady away really and we will know more after today's round... All still with a shout...
Leaderboard after 2 rounds... Leaders @ -8 T7 - R. Fowler, -5.......... smokin T16 - I. Poulter, -3........ red T42 - L. Oosthuizen, -1.. smokin T52 - P. Mickelson, E .... red T52 - T. Clark, E .......... red T52 - G. Ogilvy, E ........ smokin T62 - Z. Johnson, +1 .... red mc - K. Bradley, +2 Where the hell is Paddy Harrington...!!! Leader after the 1st, now T16th 5 shots off the lead... Shocking... Didnt see him play but his card looks a nightmare shooting +5 over for his front 9 holes, that wont help... Tiger, by all reports was walking around on one leg, well if he gets it better he will walk away with this title. Shooting +2 for his first 2 holes he then shot near perfect golf for the remainder, gaining 4 birdies for good measure... Still very much open and i think Rickie Fowler has a outside chance. Got to be looking at Watney or Garcia now but this course will not give cheap shots away so we could get a big change yet...
Nick Watney wins the Barclays International at Bethpage... Well done him... Not so good our picks with Oosthuizen coming out a respectable 5th for Smokin... The rest, well, lets move on... Winner - N. Watney, -10... T5th L. Oosthuizen, -5 ... smokin T10 T. Clark, -3 ............ red T19 G. Ogilvy, -2 ........... smokin T24 R. Fowler, -1 ........... smokin T36 I. Poulter, E ............ red T38 P, Mickelson, +1 ...... red T38 Z. Johnson, +1 ........ red Onto the Deutsche Bank tournament at TPC Boston...
