Tell me, who’s interested in the FedEx Cup playoff series?
Tim Finchem’s grand vision of snatching pole position from the NASCAR series is turning into one of the biggest yawns in golf.
The FedEx Cup Series, offering an outrageous $12m first prize cheque to one pampered PGA Tour pro who really doesn’t need an extra $12m, should be packaged and put on one of those FedEx windowless flights marked: ‘No value. Return to sender!”
Aside from Hurricane Irene intervening in Dustin Johnson’s success over 54 holes in New Jersey, the so called ‘piece de resistance’ of the PGA Tour is becoming as about as useful as an ash tray on a motor bike in building golf’s bigger image.
Without cash cow Tiger Woods, TV followers have turned away in droves and some of the biggest banks in the world, such as Barclays and Deutsche Bank, are no doubt wondering why the hell they’ve sunk so many millions into a boring ratings flop.
All the FedEx Cup series is doing is devaluing the worth of one play-off tournament after another.
But tell that to Finchem, a man so often afflicted by logorrhoea.
Good luck to Webb Simpson winning in Boston but in the bigger picture who cares?
There’s only one one event that matters, the Tour Championship.
At least in Europe we’ve got the excitement every week of players fighting to get inside the top-60 so as to qualify for the Dubai World Championship.
Thankfully, the European Tour doesn’t put all its eggs into a four tournament basket.
So while the opening two tournaments of the FedEx Cup series had hardly anything to do with the series end result, it was the European Masters climbing to the rankings summit and proudly boasting the top-four world ranked golfers.
Not for a first time this year, it was the European Tour providing the excitement, the drama and the spectacular backdrop as Thomas Bjorn became the first over-40 year old player in 14 years to win back-to-back titles.
Bjorn’s final round 62 in the rarefied air of the Alpine Crans-sur-Sierre course was easily far more riveting that watching those playing boring target golf in Boston.
Switzerland boasted three of the world’s top six and all three figured in the final round charge to the victory podium.
TV viewers on the west side of Atlantic had long hit the sack or had switched to Flushing Meadow when ‘what’s his name’ Chez Reevie blew a chance at success.
The European Tour has this week found its way to Holland where the world’s No. 2, 3 and 4 are competing.
Against this the pampered pros of the FedEx Cup series have a week’s rest.
It means all eyes are again focussed on the European Tour and the KLM Open.
Defending Dutch champion Martin Kaymer was quizzed Tuesday if he’s any closer to taking out PGA Tour membership.
His response was about as clear as asking me to name those who finished first and second last Monday in Boston.
And as Lee Westwood peeked out his Hilversum hotel window, I am reminded of his comments a week earlier in Switzeland.
“This is where I would rather be,” said Westwood.
