Most of you have better things to do than spend hours on end trying to figure out the FedExCup points system (at least I hope so — though I’ve devoted more time than I’d like to admit).
After Geoff Ogilvy, one of the most insightful and eloquent players in the game, shot a five-under 66 Sunday, he noted that he’s found the jumbo leaderboards around the course to be educational because they show the fluctuation and worth of a shot or putt in regard to FedExCup points (which they do all year long, but it’s only relevant starting at maybe the Wyndham).
I look at it with interest — if I finish there, I’m going to finish there in the FedExCup, rather than, oh, I’ve got to get there — it’s like, oh, well, I’m going to move up that many spots,” said Ogilvy. “I’m more interested to see what the fluctuation is going to be rather than concerned about what it’s going to be.
“The scoreboards get more interesting when they show more stuff on them. If he holes this putt he moves to this spot in the FedExCup. Not mine, you only see your playing partner. You don’t see yours when you’re putting. The tournament is better when they do that. People like to see that, don’t they? They should do that on TV, that sort of stuff, shouldn’t they? Or maybe they do, I don’t watch enough. When a guy is 30th, he holes this putt, he finishes 17th in the FedExCup. Good, huh?”
Graeme McDowell knew he was projected to be 84th in FedExCup points while he walked up 18, which he then eagled. Now, going into Monday’s final round, he’s projected to finish 73rd in the standings and needs a strong showing to advance to the third leg of the playoffs, the BMW Championship.
I think the info on the ‘boards is helpful once the playoffs start because that’s the only way you can figure out what you need to do to make it to the next stage of the race. But for most of the year, that stuff is useless and I just would prefer to see the actual leaderboard and scores — because in January I don’t care if Johnson Wagner has a five-footer to move to a projected 87th in the FedExCup points standings.
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Here are some facts and figures via the PGA Tour media notes, which may be helpful for viewers and fans:
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the second of four events of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
- The top 125 players on the final Regular Season FedExCup points list qualified for The Barclays.
- The top 100 players on the FedExCup points list following The Barclays qualified for the Deutsche Bank Championship. J.B. Holmes had to withdraw to reduce the field to 99 players.
- Top 70 players in the standings following the Deutsche Bank Championship qualify for the BMW Championship.
- Each Playoff event offers 2,500 FedExCup points to the winner.
- A points reset will take place following the BMW Championship giving all 30 players in the field at the TOUR Championship a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup.
- Players should strive to get into the top five in the FedExCup standings heading into THE TOUR Championship, where they would control their own destiny and win the FedExCup with a victory.
Some of the day’s lowest rounds helped push four players, who started the week outside of the top-70, to now be projected to move into the top-70 and advance to the BMW Championship. They are Geoff Ogilvy (91st/projected 60th), Chez Reavie (87th/projected 27th), Blake Adams (81st/projected 56th) and Chris Stroud (75th/ projected 62nd).
Advancing through the Playoffs
Eight players entered The Barclays ranked No. 101 – 125 in the FedExCup standings and played their way into this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship. Here’s how they fared at the midway point at TPC Boston:
Player Barclays FEC Rank Deutsche Bank Standing
Camilo Villegas T6 51 T30
Chris Stroud T18 75 T30
Ian Poulter T18 78 MC
Padraig Harrington* T13 80 T60
Bill Lunde T32 85 T39
William McGirt* T24 96 T39
John Merrick T43 98 MC
Ernie Els* T32 99 T19
* also had to play their way into the Playoffs at the final regular season event (Wyndham Championship)
PGA TOUR Rookies
Eleven of the 35 PGA TOUR rookies qualified for The Playoffs, with nine still alive in the Playoffs. Michael Thompson was eliminated last week and Kevin Chappell this week:
Player DBC Standing Current FEC Ranking Projected FEC Ranking
Keegan Bradley MC No. 14 No. 20
Charl Schwartzel T7 No. 28 No. 21
Scott Stallings T55 No. 38 No. 46
Kyle Stanley T25 No. 39 No. 38
Chris Kirk T39 No. 41 No. 45
Jhonattan Vegas T50 No. 43 No. 50
Robert Karlsson T12 No. 46 No. 41
Brendan Steele T2 No. 54 No. 19
Kevin Chappell MC No. 74 No. 86
William McGirt T39 No. 96 No. 84