“Once the PGA Championship ended in the past, and before the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, there was a little bit of a void in our schedule and a lack of interest as far as TV viewers”.
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The Fantasy Golf regular season is over which means it is time for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. “Now we have got great ratings and folks watching an exciting finish to the season”.
Kirkland homeowner Kevin Chappell is 13th in FedEx Cup points and Ryan Moore of Puyallup is 23rd. I can see that stirring some emotion. Let me take a stab.
If McIlroy can not come through in the FedEx Cup playoffs, either by getting a win or somehow capturing the overall FedEx Cup title, the Ryder Cup will be his last chance to save his 2016. The top eight qualify for the Ryder Cup after the following week at The Barclays. We will always strive to find ways to enhance our events for our fans, players and sponsors. Before winning this event a year ago, Day finished runner-up at The Barclays in 2014. Na (70) faded down the stretch and also tied for 10th.
There is a good reason he is playing catch-up late this season.
The top 125 in the standings will be there, and for the 10th consecutive season, Furyk is among that group. The four names being talked about the most? Where the typical PGA TOUR event bestows 500 points to the victor, playoff events add 2000 to the novelty check hoister, placing a far greater emphasis on finishing highly in those tournaments. But to gain entry into the Tour Championship he will have to improve during these first three tournaments into the top 30. The points leader will be given 2000 points to start, second will begin with 1800, down to the 168 points given to 30th. He then missed the Tour Championship plus the Presidents Cup. Sergio Garcia (No. 20), Danny Willet (No. 75) and Shane Lowry (No. 87) have made a decision to sit out. Notes: This is the final week to get into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup and qualifying for the playoffs. That’s all you’re looking for. Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Anirban Lahiri, and Shane Lowry are the only players missing the event giving the event a solid 121-man field including last year’s Barclays Champion (on a different course) Jason Day, U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson, defending FedEx Cup Champion Jordan Spieth, Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose, and the man who won the 2009 U.S. Open at this venue Lucas Glover. With its thick rough, narrow fairways, deviously placed bunkers, and tiny greens, Bethpage will prove to be one of the year’s toughest tracks.
Bethpage isn’t necessarily a bombers course, but its series of lengthy holes will benefit distance off the tee to set up scoring approaches.
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For actual course dimensions, Bethpage sports four Par 4s measuring between 450-500 yards, with another two just over 500. It’s the type of test that I like. And it makes sense. The course hosted two U.S. Opens in 2002 and 2009 and joined the rotation for this event which was last held here in 2012. Jordan Speith, last year’s victor, spoke about East Lake and his anticipation to return this year.
