Fedex Cup

Here we enter into the 2nd year of the 'so called' playoffs in golf as the quest for the fedex cup has begun.

I think the PGA definitely has the right idea with this to get ratings out of golf after the last major and there are definitely still kinks to iron out. That being said, the unfortunate thing is I doubt the players really care about the fedex cup.

Tour players care about winning tournaments, plain and simple. What we're going to see in the next couple years during this playoff run is complaining from the golfers about just how unfair some things are with it for the guys on the cusp. You know, the guy who is ranked 150th in money and is angry because he didn't get a chance to advance beyond the first round yet still made $1.5 million for the year.

As I said, there's still a lot to iron out in the format and they might have a foundation for something successful. They're always gonna miss out on one key ingredient, players who actually give a shit. They're millionaires folks, just for playing a game.

Until there's more emphasis on the fedex cup it'll never be more than a post major side show. The PGA is trying to broaden the dynamics of the Tour and have everyone's support except the players. Of course the players will tell you how great it is and that they love the competetive atmosphere of playoff golf. But they don't. They don't because there's nothing in it for them. Except money but not enough by their standards.

The tour members care about winning tournaments and that's it. Granted, that's all they were supposed to care about but the playoffs will be more about excuses and 'woe is me' than it will be about golf. That is for the next couple years until they iron it out.

The tour is onto something with the playoff idea and maybe in 15 years it'll be something great. Until then, the tour members will keep telling you the stuff that's wrong with it.

Just remember this, they're millionaires who will never have to work a real job for the rest of their lives. Do not, and i repeat, DO NOT feel bad for them.

Newsflash: Padraig Harrington is for Real!

Sorry about the lag in posts but been busy and not too angry at golf lately.

That being said, Padraig Harrington putted his way to the Wanamaker trophy at the 90th PGA Championship for his 2nd major in as many tries, and 3rd major out of the last 6. He's one of only 4 people to win the British Open and PGA Championship in the same year, joining Tiger Woods (2000, 2006), Nick Price (1994), and Walter Hagen (1924).

The final round was pretty uneventful for a while, and I took it well considering it was gonna be tough to duplicate the excitement of the last 2 majors, the US and British Open. Things were just plodding along until the 2nd to last group (Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia) got to the 16th hole.

That's when Harrington made a string of 1 putts that only a champion can make. He made a 12-footer for par on the 16th to tie, a 10-footer at No. 17 to take the lead and a 15-foot par putt at the end that won him the championship. It helped that Garcia landed in the drink on 16, and had his putter fail him on the last 2 holes. Garcia had been putting very well over the last month and showed confidence on the greens during the tournament.

Harrington was just too much for Garcia, and Ben Curtis.

The PGA Championship turned out to be an exciting 3 holes which absolutely made the tournament. Harrington turned into Tiger for a couple majors as he made shots that champions make. Harrington is for real folks and he will probably win another major in his career.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Tiger who?

Was That Horrible Golf or What?

Well this is what golf fans and the media were wondering was gonna happen without Tiger Woods. Bad golf.

Bad golf was certainly on display at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this past weekend. People moaned about the tour without Tiger and I remained optimistic that as long as we were treated to good golf, the story shouldn't suffer. Based on the level of play during Sunday's final round you can tell that these guys have made their money, and are pretty worn down from the season.

It was as if they just didn't care. After all, the WGC's are invitation only events in which there is no cut so it's a payout just for teeing it up. Or it was just practice rounds for upcoming PGA Championship.

Either way, it was seriously bad golf.

This is the first time this year that the tour suffered due to Tiger not being in the field. He usually doesn't play in events the week prior to major's but he usually plays in the World Golf Championships. One thing's for sure, he would have run away with this win because he seems to be the only guy who wants to win every time.

I get it, it's a long season, but you could see that they were just going through the motions and were looking at next week. It's not as if they're hurting for money so it was just hole out and get outta dodge.

The golf was bad and made it not fun to watch. Not to mention I'm a guy who can watch golf for days on end. Mickelson bogey's a few holes at the end to lose the tournament, Vijay (who won) couldn't make a putt longer than 4 feet and just about blew the tournament. As a matter of fact, he was 9-19 on putts between 4 and 8 feet, even missing an 18 incher on Saturday. US Open runner up Lee Westwood made a run at it but faltered on the last 2 holes.

Folks this was a course that was setup for low scores. It was there for the taking. Short rough, nice greens, pretty wide fairways. It's just that no one wanted it.

It's a bit of sour grapes that a 16 handicap (me) is bitching about the guys who shot 71 but there should have been a bunch of 64's.

We've been treated to some really good golf and some awesome stories too, even without Tiger. Kenny Perry resurrected his career and is gonna play the Ryder Cup in his hometown. Rocco Mediate can still bring it, as can Greg Norman. There was a David Duval sighting and Paddy Harrington hit 2 career shots in his final round of the Open Championship.

I guess it's a bit unfair for me to criticize but it was painfully obvious that they didn't want to be there. Stuart Appleby provided some good golf but it wasn't enough to overcome all the lousy golf. I also do understand that there is always lousy golf, we just don't see it because they're from the early tee times. But Sunday afternoon golf shouldn't ever be this bad.

Who knows when Tiger will even be able to return? Maybe it won't happen but maybe it will but more bad golf like Sunday's and golf will definitely lose a bit of an audience. Especially since their playoff's run into football season.

Are they just spoiled and don't care or do we chalk it up to the long season? Let's see your comments on this.