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Frank-0-Sport · #1 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2006, 12:20 PM

Greetings ...

Here and elsewhere, I've been tossing around the subject of the Tour Championship's current invitational format, which is limited to those among among the Top 30 on the Money List. Here's an interesting bit of feedback that I have received --

"That format with its 'no replacement' policy is ratified by the oversight board which includes player members elected by their peers to represent their interests. So they all know that this reward, playing in the lucrative tour Championship, further separates the top 30 from the rest, eligibility for next year's special criteria events included. This event has been as it is since the late 1980's. If the players felt strongly enough about your points, they would have changed things by now. IMHO, it's a non-issue for the rank and file."

I agree with that, and it makes me realize something ....

The PGA Tour tends to promote its own interests by several means at the expense of the events it can not control - the four Grand Slam Majors. The Tour Championship's current invitational format, as well as whatever will be the format for the upcoming Fed Ex Cup, is a case in point.

Any Grand Slam champion not among the Top 30 Money Leaders does not get an invitation. And, as stated before, only the race for Top 20 Money Leader, worth a British Open invitation, as well as that for Leading Money Winner, is decided at the event. Meanwhile, the races for Top 30 (US Open) and Top 40 (Masters) are decided elsewhere. The less references to the Majors, the better it would seem.

To me, it is ironic that, among the four grand slam majors, only the British Open invitations are up for grabs at the Tour Championship. For many years prior to 1995, the PGA Tour did not even recognize the British Open as official in any way, shape or form!

Now comes an interesting twist. You can win events that the PGA Tour DOES control - the three official money World Golf Championships as well as the Players Championship - and NOT be guaranteed to be invited to the Tour Championship. How about THAT !!?

In my view, any tie-in to golf's biggest championships should serve as an enhancement to an event like the Tour Championship. Unfortunately, by downplaying references to those other events, the PGA Tour has made the Tour Championship a very mundane occurance on its schedule.

Thanx-A-Lot, FrankoSport
Tour Championship: Suggested Revisions

VJCouples · #2 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2006, 01:51 PM

Why don't they just move the PGA championship to the very end of the season and use those rules for the "Tour Championship"? That way it will still be a major, making it an event that the best of the best would still be attending because everyone wants to win a major. I think that a "Tour Championship" is useless because nobody cares unless it's a major. Or better yet, move the Players Championship at the TPC and make it the final event AND a major. That way the PGA can have the playoff event that everyone wants to be in and it will satisfy those that have called it the fifth major.

Frank-0-Sport · #3 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2006, 02:12 PM

Greetings ...

In another reality within my infinite and extreme state of mind, the Players Championship would be at the end of the season. There would be no playoff, but a prize more meaningful than some hugh money payout would be at stake.

That "more meaningful" prize - exempt in all 4 Grand Slam Majors for 3 years, exempt on the Tour for 5 years.

Oh well - back to the cruel reality of the real world!

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

Frank-0-Sport · #4 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2006, 04:48 PM

Greetings ..

Code:

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP :: $ 6,500,000
The 27-Place Prize Distribution for 2006

 1..$ 1,170,000   11..$ 176,800   21..$ 122,200
 2..$   730,000   12..$ 167,700   22..$ 119,600
 3..$   480,000   13..$ 158,600   23..$ 117,000
 4..$   345,000   14..$ 150,800   24..$ 114,400
 5..$   288,000   15..$ 143,000   25..$ 111,800
 6..$   265,000   16..$ 137,800   26..$ 109,200
 7..$   245,000   17..$ 132,600   27..$ 107,900
 8..$   225,000   18..$ 130,000
 9..$   205,000   19..$ 127,400
10..$   188,800   20..$ 124,800

Both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson did not commit to the
event for personal reasons. Stephen Ames did commit, but
then had to withdraw due to a back injury.

Because Ames had committed, he received the 30th place
prize of $104,000 which will not count as official.

The 28th and 29th place prizes were re-distributed among
the 2nd thru 12th places.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

NikeSlingshot06 · #5 (**permalink**) November 5th, 2006, 05:12 PM

got no press at all this year, but if i ever played on tour i'd be gunning for that, because thats a guaranteed high pay check

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