Let the FedEx Cup Playoffs Begin

THE FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS get underway on Thursday with The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. The four-event playoff series, which includes the Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship, concludes in Atlanta with the Tour Championship.

After much criticism and formula tinkering, the FedEx Cup points race has slowly gained acceptance. No, it’s not the majors or the Ryder Cup. No, it can’t compete with football. But it’s far better than the days when everyone tuned out after the PGA Championship. With all that cash up for grabs, the top PGA Tour players surely welcome the playoffs and gladly play deep into the month of September. That’s good for core golf fans.

Above are PGATour.com’s top 10 shots from The Barclays. I remembered three of the shots. Four, actually. After seeing it again, I did recall Sergio Garcia’s putt in his 2008 playoff against Vijay Singh. Of course, I also remembered Vijay’s long one that he made on top of Sergio. And there was Matt Kuchar’s iron out of the rough to three feet. That was last year.

I think Heath Slocum got robbed, though. Slocum’s tournament-winning 20-footer in 2009—the biggest putt of his life and the one that beat Tiger Woods—is No. 6 on the list.

Really? Only No. 6?

That’s just wrong.

−The Armchair Golfer

2010 Barclays TV Schedule and Tournament Notes

THE 2010 BARCLAYS IS underway at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. Tiger Woods and Vaughn Taylor are tied for the first-round lead at 6 under.

Purse: $7.5 million
Winner’s share: $1.35 million
Defending champion: Heath Slocum

The field
Tee times
The live report
The course
Video
Tournament news


2010 Barclays Leaderboard

TV SCHEDULE

Thirteen hours of weekend TV coverage are scheduled for the 2010 Barclays.

Friday, Aug. 27
3-6 p.m. (GOLF)

Saturday, Aug. 28
1-2:30 p.m. (GOLF) & 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

Sunday, Aug. 29
12-1:30 p.m. (GOLF) & 2-6 p.m. (CBS)

PGA Tour radio coverage

−The Armchair Golfer