Do We Need the Fed Ex Cup to See Great Golf?

By Gregg Downey,

Corporate Golf Workshops
Loco4Golf Contributing Columnists

The Fed Ex Cup is underway and it is billed to give as much action as the NBA Playoffs, just as exciting as Nascar’s Race for the Chase and as much anticipation as Brett Favre’s return for one last season.

The Fed Ex cup in my mind will not be much different than the Leading Money Winner for 2010, an award that seemed to be good enough for the PGA Tour for over 50 years.

The PGA Tour Playoffs,  four events in all, The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship and the Tour Championship ending  in Atlanta the last week in September. After a five week stretch golfers will know who is the best golfer for 2010, right? The other events: The “Four” Majors, The “The Players “the so called fifth major, The President’s Cup held during the off year of the Ryder Cup, The four World Championship Events one of which was played the week prior the PGA Championship, I guess those are the semi finals.  With such an impressive schedule of events throughout the year who has time for a regular tour event?

Just in case you didn’t get a chance to see any of these big events, the Champions Tour has their version, heck they have five majors along with their Charles Schwab Cup too. What is that all about?

The reality there are so many great players that play incredible golf winning events all over the world each week, so truly what does the Fed Ex Cup mean to golf fans? As we prepare for a barrage of events coming our way, the Tennis US Open, opening season for the NFL, Major League Baseball fall drama, Nascar’s The Race for the Chase, Oh don’t forget The PGA Fall Series that will continue the week after the playoffs, and last but not least the Nationwide Tour will conduct their Tour Championship as well, what is a fan to do? 

The Playoffs was introduced in 2007 and as we all prepare for the fourth season of PGA Tour Playoffs how many of you are on your seat?

Consider myself, a professional for 24 years, my son plays competitively and we both love the game, honestly I’m not sure how much golf I’m going to watch this playoff season, I might find myself more interested in Frank’s picks and how he fares against the gang on Fox NFL Sunday.

I guess what comes to my mind this time of year when I review the PGA Tour Playoff schedule I’m reminded of Jim Mora’s infamous press conference comments; “Playoffs?   Don’t talk about.… playoffs?  You kidding me? ….. Playoffs?”

As golfers we love the game and all the shots good or bad shots that go with it but when the PGA Tour Playoffs roll around this time of year I think we all might find ourselves tailgating for the gridiron rather than the tee box. 

Gregg Downey

Downey & Associates, Inc.
Office 480 832-3035 Fax 480 422-0057
http://www.corporategolfworkshops.com