Mickleson responded to a reporter with a tragic, but hilarious, comment after his victory this past weekend at the Tour Championship. "Ya sure I am happy that I won, but I'm walking out of here with $3 million and Tiger is leavin' with $10 million--how does that make sense?" Though the sarcasm was palpable in his tone, so was the bitterness regarding his payoff from the FedEx Cup system.
The truth is that Tiger did have an incredible year and may just be both the Player of the Year, as well as the Comeback Player of the Year. His scoring average was just under 69, not too shabby. He won six times in 17 events, and only had 14 top-tens; once more, not too shabby. But these are major golf feats that the public recognizes and hails him for. However, those 17 events of brilliance and gripping, almost chilling, play produced earnings of $10,508,163. After the Tour Championship, he continued his reign as the FedEx Cup champ, adding another $10 million to a season that he personally found to be 'below par' because of his bad luck at majors, or as we all saw it--the yips with the putter.
My point: is this FedEx Cup system working? Personally, the only thing I like about the system is the commercial it produced with Paul Casey, Ernie Els, Anthony Kim, Heath Slocum and Vijay Singh in which they attempt to act and praise the 'extraodinarily competitive element' that the system has added to the PGA Tour. But beyond that-- I just find the system extraodinarily confusing. These guys get points for placing well in events over the span of the season: simple enough. Then the last few events of the season become exclusive, including only the top-30 point getters: Alright, still relatively simple. But then within those 30 players, the points reset for the last few events? Or is it that anyone of those 30 can win the $10 million? Or is it by ranking? Confusing much?
The dewy, plush fairways and slippery, undulating greens were enough for Jones, Hagan, Nicklaus, and Palmer, so why isn't it enough for today's star golfers? Why do they need this system?
Well, while the system may be an attempt to equal the playing field, Tiger continues to trounce any hopes of golfers not named after an aggressive, intimidating animal. Not only that, but the money aspect of this system is simply ridiculous. Personally, I am a student in the public University of California school system and as I read, shout and protest about the million and billion dollar deficits of my school system and of the state of California, Tiger just made $20 million in less than eight months. To quote a favorite movie of mine: "How do you like dem' apples?" I'm not asking him to give my school a share of his earnings, but I am asking that this system be reformed to make sense in this dwindling, beaten-down, barely breathing economy.
I love the game, idolize the sweet swing of Els, and the gritty play of Mickleson down the stretch, but I am becoming bitter about the pay-off these guys get for spending four days playing golf. Don't get me wrong, I am aware of the intense physical and mental strain that the game of golf requires. But honestly, Fred Couples played in 15 events this year, that's 60 days of golf--he earned $1,191,060.
Is this a product of the FedEx Cup system, the PGA Tour as a whole, or simply the wealthy nature that is the game of golf?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Struggling LPGA Tour explores routes for positive change
I don't know how to react anymore to these reoccurring headlines appearing on the internet golf sites that another LPGA sponsor has dropped their support. Finding an answer to why this has been a consistent issue appears simple to some and like finding your way out of a labyrinth to others. Economic downturn? Over-emphasis on the PGA Tour? Sexist attitudes invading the realm of golf? Whatever it is, this is a habit benefitting no one.
Personally, I have nothing against the LPGA. In fact, I appreciate and captivated when watching the talented, passionate golfers of the LPGA. However, I also admit that while I preach about enjoying women's golf, I don't follow their events closely by any means. For example, sometimes I'll be online exploring the worldwide web and have the epiphany that its Thursday and will instantly open a new tab and relish in ESPN's coverage of the current PGA event. Why don't I don't feel compelled to, or even think about, the women's event being played?
Does anyone else understand where I am coming from?
Aside from the hype regarding Michelle Wie a few years ago that never quite came to fruition, the dominance of Annika and the present command of the game by Lorena Ochoa, I am oblivious to the state of the LPGA Tour. Scratch that: I am oblivious to it aside from the incessant, depressing news updates like that the 'Kingsmill sponsor has just pulled out.'
A few weeks ago I read about a LPGA Tour player/model who has been taking modeling photos with golf clubs in hand, leaning on her golf bag, or with something golf-related in the background. She feels that this will boost viewers desire to stay connected to the state of the LPGA Tour. Another piece of news that caught my attention was the proposal that just like at baseball game's when players march up to the plate a song of their choosing is played in the background, so too should LPGA players have their own song played on the 1st tee and as they stroll up the 18th. This idea is meant to lure in viewers by sending a personal message from the players to the audience. Not bad in my opinion, but then again, it totally puts into question the tradition and etiquette that golf is based on. However, sometimes respect for tradition needs to be overlooked because a desparate situation like this requires change of the status quo.
There may be no correct route, but that also means that the LPGA Tour is bound by nothing. This may be he most exciting time for the LPGA in its history because they have the opportunity to experiment with diverse paths of alluring an apathetic audience. There is no doubt that this is an overwhelming and scary task, but hopefully it will be pursued by a passionate group of LPGA supporters compelled to revamp and redefine the temptation and caliber of womens golf.
Personally, I have nothing against the LPGA. In fact, I appreciate and captivated when watching the talented, passionate golfers of the LPGA. However, I also admit that while I preach about enjoying women's golf, I don't follow their events closely by any means. For example, sometimes I'll be online exploring the worldwide web and have the epiphany that its Thursday and will instantly open a new tab and relish in ESPN's coverage of the current PGA event. Why don't I don't feel compelled to, or even think about, the women's event being played?
Does anyone else understand where I am coming from?
Aside from the hype regarding Michelle Wie a few years ago that never quite came to fruition, the dominance of Annika and the present command of the game by Lorena Ochoa, I am oblivious to the state of the LPGA Tour. Scratch that: I am oblivious to it aside from the incessant, depressing news updates like that the 'Kingsmill sponsor has just pulled out.'
A few weeks ago I read about a LPGA Tour player/model who has been taking modeling photos with golf clubs in hand, leaning on her golf bag, or with something golf-related in the background. She feels that this will boost viewers desire to stay connected to the state of the LPGA Tour. Another piece of news that caught my attention was the proposal that just like at baseball game's when players march up to the plate a song of their choosing is played in the background, so too should LPGA players have their own song played on the 1st tee and as they stroll up the 18th. This idea is meant to lure in viewers by sending a personal message from the players to the audience. Not bad in my opinion, but then again, it totally puts into question the tradition and etiquette that golf is based on. However, sometimes respect for tradition needs to be overlooked because a desparate situation like this requires change of the status quo.
There may be no correct route, but that also means that the LPGA Tour is bound by nothing. This may be he most exciting time for the LPGA in its history because they have the opportunity to experiment with diverse paths of alluring an apathetic audience. There is no doubt that this is an overwhelming and scary task, but hopefully it will be pursued by a passionate group of LPGA supporters compelled to revamp and redefine the temptation and caliber of womens golf.
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