FedEx Cup Mistake
 

There are 3 FedEx Cup playoff events being played this weekend, and for the next two weekends. But Rory McIlroy has decided to skip the first event, even though he is in second place to potentially win the FedEx Cup. He could even skip the second event and still have an equal chance to win the FedEx Cup. This is clearly a mistake that I hope the tour will correct next year. Apparently, both the number one and number two players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy could both skip 2 of the 3 playoff events and just show up for the third event and one of them could take home the cup and the $10 million prize. In my opinion, this is a major screw-up in the FedEx Cup rules.

The FedEx Cup playoffs are not a start from scratch event. If these guys played well enough during the season to accumulate a point total that allows them to skip the first/second round, they earned it. McIlroy is the Masters winner. Scheffler won the PGA and “British.” Go figure. Other players need to play better during the season. They did fix the seeding for the final from previous years where the top seeds started at various X shots under (Scheffler started at something like 10 under last year). Now the top 30 will be on equal footing.

I understand, but the FedEx Cup officials are not happy that McIlroy is skipping this week's tournament, and I suspect that the rules will be changed so it doesn't happen next year. They don't want the top contenders skipping the playoff tournaments.

The tour is only interested in more and more money from crowd attendance and spending. There is no reason for McIlroy to be playing, he earned the pass.

I agree, but doesn't a lot of the money come from the sponsors, who I think would want the two top contenders to be competing in the playoff tournaments? Under the current rules, neither one needs to show up for 2 of the 3 tournaments.

the FedEx cup is just another signature event for the top golfers,, well actually 3 events in a row....that keeps the rank and file out. who cares who wins the 10 million in 2 weeks in Atlanta,, nobody.

the fact that the top guys don't even need to play simply exacerbates the issue. the scoring system is messed up , its not exciting, unless you want a particular golfer to make it through to next week,, go Ricky.

but the issue is nobody cares who wins,, the best tournaments for TV numbers are full field events when life changing events happen, (except for majors) for golfers that have never won,, or for guys that haven't won in a long long time due to many reasons,,,and that happens a lot.

But Sunday was one of the best golf tournaments of the year.

The winner, who trailed by 3 with five holes to play, made birdies on 14, 15, 16, and 17 just to make the playoff. And then birdied two of the three playoff holes to win!

With a final round like yesterday, who cares what players are involved. Great viewing.

The screwup was changing the scoring format of the championship from points determine a staggered start, to points just determine who gets to go to the championship. I think that mistake was obvious from the beginning. And from the talking heads, Scheffler was the major golf influencer for that decision. .

But whatever,

fan favorite Ricky Fowler has shown that he can still play golf, and has made the next tournament.
fan favorite Jordan Spieth is slowly fading bank to average, potentially because he isn't as strong a driver as the new crop of young players.

The PGA tour is being infiltrated by a very, very strong group of younger players, and with very few repeat winners during the year, the players are more equal and there are fewer dominant players. . Some viewers love this anyone can win as exciting while others love to watch winners continue to win. .

The PGA tour went to signature events a few years ago in response to all the $$$ the Saudis were throwing at the LIV tour for "sportswashing". That post almost word for word mimics the statements PGA tour pro James Hong made in an interview once the signature tournament plan was announced. His point was that a limited field was "just a way to put more money in the hands of the top players". However, he had no response to the interviewer when asked "how disappointed will the fans and sponsors be if James Hong isn't in the field". My response to James, and anyone who feels left out of the top 70-----PLAY BETTER.

Agree 100%. Attendance did not appear to suffer from Rory skipping Memphis. We need to get used to it. The money has gotten so large that this will become common place. Tiger was already skipping premier events before his latest injury issues. Promoters will always be disappointed when a premier player decides to withdraw or skip an event.
The first year we moved to TV , I had tickets for a Warrior game in Orlando, not only did Steph Curry not play, but Kerr sat 3 other starters. I felt like I overpaid for the product being presented.

The NFL is somewhat similar, where the top team in each conference earns a first round bye in the playoffs. The formula is simple enough...play well enough over the course of the season, and you earn a week off to rest and recharge the batteries. Rory is simply playing within the rules, and using them to his advantage (maybe).

Rory is playing within the rules, but I think the rules will be changed next year. The promoters of the FedEx Cup do not want the best players to skip any playoff tournaments.

In 2008, there were 4 FedEx tournaments. Vijay Singh won the first two and going into the final, was guaranteed of winning the 2008 FedEx Cup as long as he completed all four rounds - which he did.

It did not make for exciting television (would you watch the Super Bowl if the winner were decided before the game started).

They changed the rules after that.

Just like The NFL where top teams get byes in the first round.