PGA Tour: Goodbye 2013, Hello 2013/2014: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).After the shortest exhibition season in living memory, the PGA Tour is on the move again this week as it starts play in the "Fall" section of its season. Just to recap, these six tournaments, all of which earn a full quota of FedEx points AND a Masters invitation, are:
Frys.com Open (in California)
Shriners Hospital for Children Open (Las Vegas)
CIMB Classic (Kuala Lumpur)
WGC-HSBC Champions (Shanghai)
The McGladrey Classic (gorgeous Sea Island, Georgia)
OHL Classic at Mayakoba (Mexico)
 
2).This week's Frys.com Open will be staged at CordeValle GC, a 1999 Robert Trent Jones Jr design in San Martin, just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, between San Jose and Gilroy (garlic Capital of the World and home of George Archer, the Gilroy Cowboy!).
CordeValle is so well thought of that the USGA will hold the 2016 US Women's Open here, which will cause the "Frys" to head north next year to Silverado, in Napa Valley's wine country, Johnny Miller's place which hosted PGA Tour and Champions Tour events regularly until the past few years.
 
3).We've endured/enjoyed almost two months of Play-Offs / WTF Championships and the music has stopped sufficiently for us to recap some status changes among long-time Tour members:
~Players among Top 50 in career Tour earnings taking a one-time exemption for 2013/2014: Ames, Calc, Funk, Weir.
But surprisingly NOT Chad Campbell who presumably will depend on sponsors' invites (like this week) and his conditional status to resurrect his career - Good luck with that.
~Players among Top 25 in career earnings taking a one-time exemption: Allenby, Verplank.
~And non-members who earned more FedEx points than #125 who have opted to take Tour membership are: Gonzo, Matsuyama, Olesen.
 
4).Expect long-time casualty Anthony Kim to rejoin the PGA Tour early in the new season - others returning from injury include a few this week: Blake Adams, Briny Baird (Lost in a 2011 play-off at the "Frys"), Jose Coceres, Spencer Levin, who "rehabbed" on the web.com Tour and can be expected to make a strong showing this week and next, Glover, Goosen, Goydos, Kevin Na and Jhonathan Vegas.
 
5).Are there any take-aways from last week's Presidents Cup?
By many accounts Jason Dufner ("hey Fred, I was lasering it!") was hitting it as well as anyone on either team.
Kuchar seemed to make a good partner for Woods and perhaps that's a partnership we can expect to see at Gleneagles?
And, especially in team matches, the Americans holed a bucketful of putts.
Don't look now but only Jordan Spieth was a Cup novice, and Team USA is gradually building a formidable squad.
 
6).For the Internationals, Jason Day seemed to relish a leadership role and the deBallstrikers, DeLaet and de Jonge played beautifully.
Els was brilliant from tee to about four feet, but did you see him over those knee-tremblers? A hideous putting stroke even with the long putter which cost him at least one match with B de J they should have won.
But Grace and Sterne weren't at the races and Matsuyama showed he's not quite the real deal - yet.
Meanwhile: Nick Price selected his on-course leader, Ernie Els, to open the singles batting, only to be told other matches had to go out first. Thanks Timmy. Expect Price (and Els) to speak out about this and other changes the Internationals want to see.
 
7).Angel Cabrera and Matsuyama (Edit: Add Leishman, courtesy of GPB. Thanks!) tee it up again at the "Frys", but the other 21 are taking a welcome break.
The field this week is pretty competitive though, led by Billy Horschel - and who wouldn't have expected Billy to make the Pres Cup action when he was contending every week in the spring?
I'm looking forward to seeing how some web.com "graduates" fare, including, of course, John Peterson.
Also: Chesson (and I christen you "Chesson". Whaaaaat?) Hadley, built like a pipe-cleaner but an impressive winner in the WTF Championship, and Ben Martin, who played poorly last time round the Tour circuit but who has looked the part in web.com action.
 
8).Jonas Blixt and his entourage were the stars at last year's "Frys", and there are some non-winners in this week's field who have been on Tour a year or two now and will surely win soon:
We've mentioned Levin, but also Kevin Chappell (almost a local boy this week, and won up the road on the Nationwide) and Tringale are overdue.
 
9).These six tournaments of 2013 are going to play a crucial part in many players' seasons, especially those who will only be playing a limited schedule.
Any Europeans, for instance, who don't make hay during the CIMB and HSBC stops in Asia will find themselves a long way behind when they clear out the New Year cobwebs.
Doesn't matter how good they think they are, there just won't be room for all the Europeans when Tour cards are secured for 2014/20215; Colsaerts and Hanson made it by the skin of their teeth last season, but Fisher and Karlsson obviously came up short and there'll be more casualties this year.
So it's good to see Brian Davis (29th last year) and Russell Knox (9th in 2012) playing while Freddie Jac and Carl Pettersson will be hoping to emulate compadre Blixt.
 
10).Finally, the last word this week goes to Nick Faldo, just the way he would like it, as he makes his debut on the Champions Tour. Not clear exactly what persuaded him to enter this week and no word yet on whether he'll play more often, but his appearance at the "SAS Championship" in North Carolina will be interesting, if nothing else. Old Ryder Cup teammates Langer, Lyle and Montgomerie will join him, but the focus will be on Faldo, or, as he prefers to be known, Sir Nick.

Kwini, Nice Write-up as usual.

Marc Leishman is also teeing it up in the Frys*com, joining Hideki and Angel.

I think 49 of the 50 Web*commers are in the field. Patrick Cantlay is not in the field, presumably ongoing back issues.

As I said in the OWGR thread, the Eight players who snubbed Frys to go play in Turkey have three years to plays FRYS*com. Those players are Tiger, Rory, Rosie, Charl, Kuch, Westy, Hunter, and Webb. They would have added about 175 to the Strength of Field calculation if they had all played this week.

Carl Pettersson has dumped NIKE and will be brandishing TaylorMade clubs in the 2014 season according to the Doug Ferguson article.

Woah! Thanks GPB, Hadn't noticed Leishman - good for him. I'll edit using your attribution!

Looking at the Frys field, I somewhat doubt yr 49 web.commers number, apart from the alternates Wilcox (mental health month from what one can gather) and Alverado (injured) are certainly not playing and there are plenty of others among the alternates.

Perhaps Pettersson's sleek, powerful, athletic body didn't match Nike's image?

Also in Doug F article, Henrik Stenson was the Race to Dubai's golfer of the month for September. Did Henrik get within 3000 miles of a European Tour Tournament in September?

TaylorMade might wooed Carl P with Beer and Ice Cream!

It seems you are correct GPB.  I can only see that this works if they are talking either (a) about a performance of a European, or (b) a European tour member.

One or two "names" in this week's Latinoamerica's Puerto Rico Classic.
Including Tano Goya _ really looked a promising player just a few years ago, David Duval, and sleepyhead Angel Cabrera Junior, who missed the bus and his Dad's tee-time when he was caddying in the Pres Cup. Hope he wakes up this week.

And: Stage 1 Q-School begins, the first week of three with twelve qualies in all. Some well-known amateurs of years gone by in this week's fields; let's see who actually turns up. But Rhys Davies is signed up to compete.

Just checked a Faldo is 56 and therefore has been eligible for a while.

Has he been relieved of his TV duties?

Mac,
I don't think so; it sounds as if it's just a whimsical thing, but sure there's more to it than that - he said he got the urge to play again during his preparation for returning to Muirfield in July. But perhaps there was a financial urge as well?
If his putter is working he might do OK; certainly Montgomerie has failed to match his own over-confident expectations, but almost everyone undergoes an adjustment period when they start Champo Tour golf.

What sort of champions tour schedule will VJ play?

Is he cutting back on the PGAT to accommodate play on the champions tour?

Vijay? Who knows?? He's been eligible for 8 months and teed it up once; should arguably have won but struggled coming home.

Three or more over-50's playing this week at the Frys, which excludes web.com grads. Not sure that's what the Tour would want, but they've earned their places so what can you do??!!

Per usual, a great write up Kwin.

That ET Stenson award just classic.

Most recent Golf Digest a fascinating read on how FOX wrestled the USGA contract from NBC/Comcast. TV - the gasoline for the US Tour. Can't find the link, but worth looking into IMO. Massive amount of money in play.

Played this weekend and on the putting green was Sean O'Hair (I believe in his PC vest he earned a few years back). Heading out with a group of his buddies and I can't help but watch as he hits his tee shot. Impressive stuff. And I really hope he finds more form this coming year.

Sr,
Thanks! Yup, read the USGA TV article - think the USGA are missing the point a little regarding their ambitions to elevate the status of the US Open to that of The Masters.
It's not TV coverage, it's the product! Nager should own up to the fact that "the enemy is us"!, the USGA, not NBC.

The US Open has adopted course set-ups and qualification rules that restrict the glamour and excitement of the tournament.

The Masters, on the other hand, always courted the international players and audiences and lucked out when guys like Seve and Norman challenged early in their careers. Throw in Watson, Nicklaus's '86 win and subsequent challenges, the European successes, then Woods in '97, and the snowball had gathered momentum that the US Open will never match.

Fox is a ghastly network and only ever watch their footie (and only then when the commentary is in English, as opposed to American) and baseball with the sound down so as not to hear the awful Joe Buck.

Pig ignorant as some of NBC's commentators can be, Fox will be far worse - we can only prepare to hold our collective noses.

Nice interview with S O'H at the WTF event; seems to have become quite the mixed up kid. Always get the impression following him that he's in constant search of the perfect which is the enemy of the very good which he is.

PS: Anyone have any ideas who the "Undercover Tour Pro" is?

My money is on Brian Davis . . . . . . . wish "limeyatthebeach" was still on here to pass on his editorial comment on that!

Very good points Kwin. The Masters will almost always fare better than the US Open for the golf viewing public IMO: it comes on the heels of winter so there's lots of pent up demand, the familiarity of the course, the over-the-top conditioning and, yes, all the "tradition" make it easy to absorb, especially for the non-hardcore viewer (which is who they need to attract for their rating's spike).

The USGA pre occupation with par is also something that I absolutely thinks works against them. Players seem to play extremely defensive golf, shoulders slump at fine shots that often should be rewarded, but end up being penalized ... all-in-all makes for a survival contest, not an exhibition of great golf.

I found Rory's romp at Congressional wonderful -- wish there were more setups like that.

Can't wait until FOX puts Norman in the booth ... will give me plenty to post about!

They're talking about Greg Norman and Nick Price as "lead analysts".

Honestly can't see why they would accept the USGA gig unless Fox secured other golf properties - Shark would love to do the US Open, I'm sure, probably the US Senior Open and possibly the US Women's Open. But he proved himself somewhat out of touch with the Asian players at Melbourne's Pres Cup and one "Tour"-level gig is hardly enough to familiarise himself with the hundreds of pros who could compete in the US Open.
Price would be better.

Fox will really have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to commentary teams - not sure how that enhances the US Open.

The US Ryder Cup Point Accumulation resumes this week at the FRYS*com.  Thus far, only the four majors have counted.

With most of the elite US players taking the rest of the year (except for HSBC), there could be 5 or 6 unknowns in the top 10 of the RC rankings before Hyundai.

If this week winner is American, he will almost certainly be at least 4th (probably 3rd) in the RC standing as first place is worth 900 points.

top 20 standings

1. Phil MICKELSON 2,172.000
2. Jason DUFNER 1883.199
3. Jim FURYK 921.040
4. Tiger WOODS 676.623
5. Brandt SNEDEKER 551.697
6. Zach JOHNSON 496.827
7. Hunter MAHAN 483.288
8. Matt KUCHAR 462.226
9. Steve STRICKER 432.712
10. Dustin JOHNSON 413.662
11. David TOMS 404.600
12. Scott PIERCY 322.320
13. John HUH 307.591
14. Rickie FOWLER 293.697
15. Billy HORSCHEL 291.406
16. Keegan BRADLEY 206.530
17. Bo VAN PELT 201.140
18. Fred COUPLES 184.851
19. Boo WEEKLEY 152.863
20. Kevin STREELMAN 150.03

And a US winner in Vegas, Malaysia, China, Sea Island, and Mexico will have similar impacts.

At this time, Alex Aragon is first alternate for the Frys*com and he finished 37th (out of 50th) among Web*commers.

I counted 145 players that are higher on the TourCard pecking order before any of the 50 WEB*Commers. And that is before any medical exemptions and 10 of those players are playing the Frys. (Steve Marino, Kevin Na, Retief Goosen, Paul Goydos, Jonathan Byrd, Blake Adams, Briny Baird, Spencer Levin, Jhonattan Vegas, and Jose Coceres)

GPB,
Amazingly enough, the Top 12 right now would be a pretty strong team! Especially if you took the Top 9 and added, say, Dustin, Bradley and either Haas (who's really starting to look the real deal) or Horschel.
Might even beat the Top 12 in the current European standings!

The new PGA Tour season will immediately distinguish itself as sunny California has no serious rain in the forecast and hopefully fog won't be an issue - it's almost desert.


We talk about John Peterson being a piece of work - and it's not just here! In an article on pgatour.com identifying web.com players to make a splash on the BIG stage, a number choose Peterson and refer respectively to:
"A big game performer with a swagger to match."
"Has tons of game and his confidence is never in short supply."
"Has enough confidence for five people."

There are a number of combustible characters on Tour these days and expect something incendiary from Peterson, or at least about Peterson, sooner rather than later. (Wonder how he gets on with Billy Horschel?)

Where is Jordan Spieth in that list?

Spieth is 46th on the US Ryder Cup standings.

The USA Ryder Cup Point accrual is only about 9% complete. It took nearly 4100 points to make the top 9 in 2012.

Other than slightly higher purses, the only significant change to the qualifying formulas are the addition of 6 fall events to the formulas. Basically making the effective number of tournaments from 44 to 50.

I think a US player will need to earn 4700 pts to make the team, and 5000 pts to be "comfortably" on the team.

Of course those numbers depend on how well non US players do on tour. If International players start taking a significant portion of Podium finishes, particularly in majors, then the 4700 points will probably be lower.

In 2010, it only took 3200 points to make the team. Non Americans won 3 of the 4 majors, 2 of the 3 WGC events, plus 12 other tournaments including the Players. and 2 of the 4 majors in 2009.

Marcel Siem back in Europe and thriving, today at least; Brooks Koepka taking the opposite route and playing the Frys as he looks to short-circuit the web.com apprenticeship, either by elevating his owgr to the Top 50 or earning sufficient money (or a win) to secure Special Temporary Membership of the PGA Tour - the Jordan Spieth route.

It'll still be interesting to see what course Peter Uihlein takes - surely he'll be firmly esconced in the Top 50 by year's end and he'll be able to gain access to most of the events on either Tour that he would want. After all, it's not as if the boy doesn't have influential connections. Sure he'd rather earn everything he gets though.

The 2013/2014 season starts in less than one hour, looking as if 2011 Frys Champion, Bryce Molder, will get things going.

web.com Q-School update:
Eight years ago Matthew Richardson won both his Walker Cup singles matches 5&4, against Nicholas Thompson and JB Holmes respectively.
Suffice to say their paths have diverged since then, not necessarily in the way he might have hoped.

Fast forward to this week and Richardson lies 50th of 69 in his Stage 1 qualie.

Other "notables" include:
Matt Hill who was US NCAA Collegiate Champion in 2009 and equalled Woods's record of seven collegiate wins in a season. He lies 29th in his qualie.
Which is better than Bryden Macpherson, 2011 Amateur Champion who lies 69th of, er um, 69 players.

Rhys Davies shot 67 on Wednesday to climb to 10th halfway thru his qualie, just behind Sean Jacklin.

Relatives of Tour players Sindelar, McCumber, Brown and Wadkins are on pace to move on but Jay Haas (presumably "Jr") is struggling - not surprising as he carried his brother's bag at Muirfield Village last week.

Some good golf at the Frys yesterday, Brian Davis in at one under par (70) and Russell Knox at even (71) after making a watery mess of his final hole, a bogeyed Par-5.
Cut-line will likely go from +1 to even par so both need clean rounds today.

Mike Weir was featured on Thursday's coverage - he hit 3/14 fairways, 8/18 greens yet still shot one over par thanks to a double-bogey on a par 5. Chipping, pitching and putting rock solid, but it's going to be a big hill to climb back to Tour respectability with those "ball-striking" stats.

Nice round yesterday by Rhys Davies and he should qualify for Q-School Stage 2 with any sort of respectable effort today. Matt Richardson a long way adrift from advancing.

The downfall of Rhys Davies really came out of nowhere.
 
On the face of it he had the pedigree and steady career progression to reach the very top. Good amateur record, US college, 2 Challenge tour wins, 1 European tour win (with at least another two very creditable second places to Donald and McDowell that I can recall), 'Million Dollar' putting stroke (quote from Monty)...How could it all go so wrong?
 
It may be just a coincidence but the slide seemed to start around the 2010 Ryder cup. The way he was paraded around Celtic Manor as the little helper just to pretend that there was a Welsh element in the team was so cringey; even for Monty standards. So I blame Monty

Can anyone (Kwini) access the Latino America portion of the PGATour website?

It is completely dead and I have tried using Google Chrome and Internet Explorer.

GPB,
This is the best I can do. Apparently David Duval shot 70 yesterday!

http://www.pgatourla.com/

Woosie,
Welcome to the Ballwasher!
Hopefully Mr.Davies can at least gain status on the web.com Tour; given that he's familiar with the States perhaps this will be a good place for him to find his feet without the burden of GB expectations. Fingers crossed!

Matt Richardson is even more of a puzzle for me; clearly capable of playing really well, but without any sign of the consistency that Touring Pros MUST have.

Kwini: That website does not open on my computer.

looks like Angel Jr. would have been better off staying in bed again. +7 thru 11 holes.

Faldo's 'comeback' lasted for 12 and half holes.

web.com Q-School Stage 1:
Thumbs up for:
Matt Hill
Rhys Davies (big time, 2nd in his qualie)
Sean Jacklin
Aussie Andrew Buckle

Thumbs down:
Matt Richardson
Bryden Macpherson


And a very eclectic leaderboard at the Frys with European Tour player Brooks Koepka leading the way - makes the PGA Tour look like a secondary circuit . . . . . . .

Nice starts for Davis and Knox - both T28, three under par.

Good to see the big headed for no reason nobody Jeff Overton drop down the leaderboard.
Yet another week goes by without a tournament win.

Yup, Overton does himself no favours.

And strange that Faldo gave his first Champo start the elbow, literally. Good round for Mark Mouland, however, and he's tied for the lead at a time when a good result is crucial.


Good field for next week's action in Las Vegas.
Including:

Davis, Knox, Laird
Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Watney, DeLaet, de Jonge, Matsuyama

These "Fall series"-type events have the potential of changing the way the pros regard the season; European Tour players below the absolute top level who are double-dipping could easily find they are playing "catch up" from the start of the year if they also skip most of the West Coast tournaments.
Quite likely that the FedEx point, and money if that is still applicable, threshholds for Top 125 will be considerably higher than for 2013.

No doubt the FE threshold for top 125 will be higher. Probably at least 400 pts to make the Barclays.

I think the Money list is irrelevant starting this season. (except the players bankers)

Good starts for Davis and Knox with a birdie each in Round 3's first two holes - but Knox should have had a second, missed a 4-footer.

There'll be an MDF following today's action with 80+ golfers making the cut.

Just had a butcher's at the fields for four of next week's five Q-School Stage 1 contests and no Europeans of any great golfing significance are entered; Matthew Booth and Fergal Rafferty the only names I recognized.

kwinigolfer wrote:
Quite likely that the FedEx point, and money if that is still applicable, threshholds for Top 125 will be considerably higher than for 2013.

 Money has been removed from the traditional official PGAT thresholds for this year... FedEx points now...  That includes placings to get into invitationals, etc...

OK... whatever Camilo Villegas is having on weekends.... NO THANK YOU, I don't want any.... sheesh...

Headline across Europe:
"Challenge Tour player leads PGA Tour event."

The Challenge Tour is the second best Tour in the world . . . . . with apologies to Zach Johnson!

Good day for Brian Davis, but a waste from Russell Knox, with a 3-putt from 16 feet and two other tiddlers missed, at least.

Poor Camilo, he needs to get a really strong caddie - not sure who he has now but his troubles began when Waldman joined the Nationwide.


robo,
Has there been any chat about the FedEx points hand-out being slightly inequitable for the tail-enders of those who make the cut - doesn't seem quite right to me that 70th and worse just receive a fraction of a point? Which is all that differentiates them from those who can't even make the weekend.

kwinigolfer wrote:robo,
Has there been any chat about the FedEx points hand-out being slightly inequitable for the tail-enders of those who make the cut - doesn't seem quite right to me that 70th and worse just receive a fraction of a point? Which is all that differentiates them from those who can't even make the weekend.

I haven't heard a peep about it, but in the big scheme of things does it really matter?  OK... so some guy finishing 80th gets .8 of a point instead of 1 point.... meh....?  

What I am hearing is becoming the BIIIIIIIIG issue is word is getting out on the early commitment lists for the McGladrey and Mayakoba.  And where some thought it was a possibility some Web.com playoff guys (Category 25) might not get a start in the fall, now its almost certain.  Las Vegas was looking like it might only get 28 in... but as it stands now the Vegas number is 24 Cat. 25 guys in with the 2 Category 25 SE's already designated.   McGladrey is currently at 14 Cat. 25 guys not getting in, and Mayakoba is at 11 cat. 25 guys not getting in.  And by the way, there is only a remote possibility it might get a "little" better for McGladrey and Mexico... but odds are it will actually end up being WORSE as commitments aren't all in until the Friday before.  

Bottom line... I've never had an issue with the past q-school/web.com system with the old schedule.  [roughly] 50 guys getting cards, and even though the lower priority guys would get less events, that didn't bother me.   I thought they got enough starts early on before the first reshuffle and subsequent reshuffles, they had at least a fighting chance. (Just play better, was my mantra)  And besides...  in the past they always had the fall series where they could count on getting a lot of starts and making it up at the end via the money list.    

But NOW... the POSITIVE is the fields are getting better in those fall events as hoped... but the PGA Tour has GROSSLY misjudged how those better fields would affect Category 25.   I think everybody just assumed the lowest priority guys would still get at least 2 if not 3 bites at the apple in the fall... I don't think ANYBODY thought it would be ZERO... But it looks almost assured that's gonna be the case for at least a few guys.

robo,
Lots of good points - the point I was trying to make about those who made the cut and finished a tail-render was not the difference between a point and a fraction of a point.
But the difference between $0.00 and at least $10K.
I agree that the FedEx pts is slightly more meritorious, which is good, but give the guys some credit for making the cut . . . . . .

Not surprised about the quality of the "Fall" fields - several times in the past the conditional status crew have missed out (I should know from following Greg Owen!), and now they do also but also the new influx.
The way they accorded the priority status from the WTF Champo's is largely to blame for rendering the web.com regular season something of a mirage. Just ask blokes not called Lovemark and Tway who will doubtless be favoured with sponsors invites.

(The Champions Tourists don't help, incidentally.)

kwinigolfer wrote:robo,
the point I was trying to make about those who made the cut and finished a tail-render was not the difference between a point and a fraction of a point. But the difference between $0.00 and at least $10K.

I guess I've always been a little more "OWGR centric", so the concept of "tail-enders" getting little or nothing hasn't been on my radar.  But it is something to consider.    

Just checking... with Money formulas...  70th place money yields 1/90th that of the winner... and Fedex points for 70th place is either 1/300th, 1/500th, 1/550th or 1/600th of first place depending on what type of event.  So actually 70th place in an alternate event is getting double compared to 1st place compared to 70th in a  major.  That does seem odd doesn't it?  

Bottom line:  I suppose it would be "more like the past" if they changed the FedEx Point scale at the bottom end to be more like the money percentages... but then again... The FedEx playoffs have been determined by this kind of scale for years now... and I haven't heard of any concerns about it.  Perhaps now that not just playoffs, but future STATUS will be determined by solely by FedEx points it will come more to the forefront... I really don't know.

EDIT: One other thing to consider though...  It seems to me with money and OWGR... once a guy falls well out of contention on the weekend... there isn't much incentive to grind his butt off to save every stroke.   OWGR points and money are so similar between say 50th to 70th that it really didn't matter much.... (roughly $12.5k vs $10k money... and only an extra 1-2 OWGR points, if that depending on strength level)  BUT... with the FedEx point scale... If I'm an also ran... I'm grinding hard for every stroke.  70th place gets me only one FE point... but if I can improve a few strokes to maybe get to 50th... my FedEx points for the event goes up 21x.

Yup, going closer to the E.T. and LPGA models.
I'd advocate a further (top-60-ties?) cut after Round 3 a la The Open of many years ago but know that would never fly.

Anyway, looking forward to how Portugal and the Frys shakes out. David Lynn's 40th birthday next Sunday, quite the overnight sensation!, but wonder if he'll hold on over the next hour; maybe one stroke short?

Kwini, is what you are proposing is Bonus Fedx Points for making a cut?

I don't like that idea and let me illustrate with slightly ridiculous example.

Assume that 50 bonus points were awarded to players making a cut.

In a regular event, Player A gets 550 points for winning and Player B receives 51 points for finishing 70th.

In the next event, Player A misses the cut, and Player B finishes 70th again.

In the bonus scenario, after two events:

Player A has 550 points
Player B has 102 points

In the current scenario, after two events

Player A has 500 points
Player B has 2 points

And in the No-Cut events (like WGCs) players would basically get appearance FE Points. I don't like that idea AT ALL.

GPB,
No, not at all, unless you count getting SOME prize money (usually between $9K and $14K) for finishing 70th as a bonus.
All I'm saying is that, under the money rule, players received a significant sum for making the cut - and still do of course, except that it only counts with their banker.
The difference this week between Tim Clark, say, and Sabbatini will be a fraction of a FedEx point and I don't feel that's equitable.

IMO, a player doesn't deserve any FE points if he can't finish in the top half of the field.

So the fraction of a point between Clark and Sabbatini bothers me because Clark actually earned a fraction of a point.

And that goes for the OWGR supplements in WGCs. A player losing his first round match in the Match Play does not deserve any OWGR points.

Henrik Stenson got 2 OWGR points for hitting one shot in the Accenture in 2010. He got a mid figure 5 digit paycheck too. Both of which went into the Euro RC standings that year.

Big difference between owgr points and FE points, apples and oranges.

Robo:

I wouldn't be surprised if Mayakorba turns into a 144 player field if the Web*commers

Just checking latitudes of Cancun and Honolulu (Sony)

21.3 deg North for Honolulu
21.16 deg North for Cancun

Nearly identical. In fact Cancun is further South (trivially)

There should be more than a trivial amount of available daylight for Cancun than Sony because rounds 1&2 of Mayakorba is played 37 days before the Winter Solstice and Rounds 1&2 of the Sony is about 20 days after the Winter Solstice.

Sony has always had 144 player field so there should be no issues related to daylight for Mayakorba.

kwinigolfer wrote:Big difference between owgr points and FE points, apples and oranges.

A difference yes, but not a big difference.

GPB,
My point is that FedEx equity is the PGA Tour's concern alone.
The integrity of the owgr points is a worldwide concern - it's the universal currency of golf.

Anyway, this is looking as if we'll have an exciting finish at the Frys; lots of contrasting stories with Koepka at one end of the spectrum and Vijay at the other end! Not sorry to see Garrigus and Kokrak slipping away, hope they don't slip back.