There are nine spots still up for grabs as the third of the FedEx Cup playoff events, the BMW Championship, ends Sunday. Here is a look at how things are shaping up for the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club next week.
Three storylines
New winner likely. The PGA Tour likely will crown a first-time playoff winner. Of the four previous winners, Tiger Woods is gone, Vijay Singh is 14th and Jim Furyk is 35th and not yet guaranteed a spot in the Tour Championship. There are plenty of new faces atop the standings. Of the 21 players guaranteed a spot in the Tour Championship, five will be playing in the final playoff event for the first time, including three in the top 11.
Kuchar’s breakthrough? Last year Matt Kuchar entered the Tour Championship as the overall FedEx Cup points leader. However, the Georgia Tech graduate finished in a tie for 25th in the 30-player field, and dropped to second place overall. Kuchar entered this week’s BMW Championship third in the standings and again in striking range of the title and $10 million prize.
No Tiger. For the second consecutive year, Woods will not be in the field at East Lake Golf Club. Woods, a two-time winner of the FedEx Cup, failed to make the playoffs after he finished 132nd in the point standings. He skipped the final regular-season event in an attempt to move into the top 125 and qualify for the four-event playoff. According to tour officials, ticket sales are slightly ahead of last year. The show goes on without the sport’s biggest draw.
Locked in
Even before the BMW Championship concludes Sunday, these 21 players have already secured a place in the 30-player Tour Championship field (in order of standings): Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Kuchar, Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker, Jason Day, Nick Watney, Steve Stricker, Chez Reavie, Phil Mickelson, Gary Woodland, Bubba Watson, Jonathan Byrd, Singh, K.J. Choi, Adam Scott, Mark Wilson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, David Toms and Charles Howell III.
Control their fate
The top five players in the FedEx Cup point standings are eligible to capture the FedEx Cup with a win at the Tour Championship. Any of the 30 players in the field can the take title, but will need help to do so. Furyk took the title last year, moving up from 11th place, with a victory and a poor finish by Kuchar.
By the numbers
3 Number of times in the first four FedEx Cup playoffs that the player who entered the Tour Championship first in points won the overall title (Woods twice, Singh). Last year’s winner, Furyk, won the Tour Championship and vaulted from 11th place to win the FedEx Cup.
0 Number of players to win the FedEx Cup title without having won at least one of the four playoff events. The winners of the first two playoff events were Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson.
Quotable
“I’ve got nothing to lose this week. That’s my strategy. That’s my attitude. Right now, I’m not going to Atlanta. I’ve got everything to gain this week. That’s really the way I’m seeing it. Guys who are 26, 27, 28, 29, who have played well all year, they might be pretty tense this week because they feel they deserve to be in Atlanta.” — Justin Rose, who entered the BMW Championship 34th in the FedEx Cup point standings and needing to move up four spots to qualify for the Tour Championship.
Tour championship data
Where: East Lake Golf Club
When: Wednesday-Sunday
Tickets: A limited number of tickets are available online through Ticketmaster, by phone (800-913-9791) or in person at metro-area Kroger stores. Tickets for $20 for Wednesday’s practice rounds, $40 for Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds and $55 for Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds. Weekly passes (Wednesday-Sunday) are available for $135. Tickets are available at the game but at an increased price.
Schedule:
Monday: Practice rounds (closed to the public).
Tuesday: Practice rounds (closed to the public).
Wednesday: Practice rounds. Gates open at 8 a.m.
Thursday: First round. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. First tee time approximately 11:45 a.m.
Friday: Second round. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. First tee time approximately 11:45 a.m.
Saturday: Third round. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. First tee time approximately 11:45 a.m.
Sunday: Final round. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. First tee time approximately 11:45 a.m.
TV schedule
Thursday, Friday: 1-6 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 1-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-6 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday: Noon-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC)
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