CBSSports.com staffers Ross Devonport and Steve Elling take a scattershot look at three compelling and timely topics in the game.
| 1. The second FedEx Cup playoff series begins this week at The Barclays event in New Jersey. Several issues were tweaked to give more players a chance to advance deeper into the four-event series if they play well. If you could implement one more points revision, what would it be? | |
| Steve Elling | Ross Devonport |
 I'd revise a lot more than one rule, but the first overhaul I'd make is winnowing down the field of points participants to a smaller few. NASCAR runs a late-season series in which the top 12 drivers in points compete for the Sprint Cup season title. Yet the fall races include other drivers, too. The PGA Tour needs to trim the list of FedEx participants from 144 -- a number that exceeds the total of guys who will keep their cards this year -- to about 75 or 80. The others can still compete and win, but the FedEx points would be a separate race within the tournament, just like with stock cars. Flatly stated, nowhere near 144 players deserve a chance at $10 million in bonus money. |  I only get one change? Well, then I better make it a big one. I would just have the top 30 guys play in all four tournaments, as sort of a mini-season. As the system is set up now, I think only the top 15 or 20 guys have a legitimate shot at winning the FedEx Cup anyway, so why not just let the best players go at it for four weeks, with the winner taking home the big check. The rest of the tour can play in minor events alongside the main ones for the first three weeks and then step back to watch the Tour Championship. |
| 2. Tiger Woods wrote on his website last week that he won't begin swinging a club until early 2009 because it could do more harm than good. He hasn't even begun rolling putts yet, though he says he could. What do you guys make of this? | |
| Steve Elling | Ross Devonport |
| The dude will do anything to avoid playing in the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, huh? While there was very little news in his self-penned medical update, there is one bit of tid I found interesting -- Woods finally seems to be listening to his doctors. Ignoring their advice regarding his knee contributed greatly to the wear and tear he sustained over the past few years, so it's in his best interests to take baby steps to ensure a full recovery. Actually, given the declining TV ratings and waning fan interest in his absence, it's in everybody's best interests that he heed their counsel. | I was talking to someone last week who didn't think Woods would be back until the Masters, so this news wasn't exactly surprising to me. Woods has always said he focuses on the majors, so now he has the perfect excuse to start his season in Augusta -- something he's probably always dreamed of doing. The tour would rather have Woods back at 100 percent for the Players than have him play at, say, Riviera or Bay Hill, so they won't say a word. |
| 3. We've had a week to absorb what took place at the four majors this year, where double-winner Padraig Harrington was a cumulative 7 over in 24 rounds to lead all players who made the cut at the Grand Slam events. Some have suggested that the more generally difficult setups and conditions we've seen over the past few years are hindering fan interest and growth of the game. Thoughts? | |
| Steve Elling | Ross Devonport |
| It seems to be a mixed bag, really. Diehard fans don't mind watching the guys suffer on occasion or pay their dues while enduring at tougher setups. However, casual fans seem to be turned off by watching survival golf with few theatrics outside of a crazy par save from the boonies. The difficulty at the PGA Championship two weeks ago was a surprise to everybody, coming off winning scores of 18 under and 8 under the two previous years. Thankfully, rain softened the course and allowed Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis to put on a memorable duel in the final round. If fans skipped it, they missed a stellar show. I think diversity in scoring opportunities at the majors is far more interesting. Otherwise, watching a Grand Slam parade of bogeys can get numbing and boring. Even to me. | Things did get a little ridiculous this year, to be perfectly honest. I'm quite alright with having the two Opens played on super-tough courses, but the PGA should be a nice end to the major championship season and birdies shouldn't be as hard to find as John Daly's belly button. While I just like to see competition, whether it be guys scrambling for pars or racking up the under-par totals, a lot of casual fans don't want to turn on TV and see action that reminds them of their struggle |
