PGA Playoffs??

Posted 8:10 p.m. Sep 6, 2007 — Updated 8:44 p.m. Sep 6, 2007

Jeff Gravley

The PGA may be calling it the "playoffs" but it should be called the "layoffs." What kind of playoff system would allow a team or player to withdraw after the first 2 tournaments and still be eligible for the championship??? That's just bogus.

I love the concept of a playoff in golf but the system needs some work. It's tradition to have the Deutsche Bank championship end on Labor Day, but that's an extremely quick turn around for those heading to the next stop. See if the players would rather have the Deutsche go Thursday-Sunday.

On Monday, points leader Phil Mickelson walked off the 18th green at the Deutsche and kept on walking home. He isn't playing in the third of four playoff events this week at the BMW championship. What?? Lefty's not too happy with PGA commissioner Tim Finchem about some of the aspects of the Tour Playoffs but won't elaborate. Many players were not aware that the 10 million dollar bonus for winning the Fed Ex Cup goes into a retirement fund. "I think that's one of the major issues for all of us," Tiger Woods said.

Ernie Els, 14th in the standings, wanted to be with his family and isn't playing in the BMW. Tiger Woods is third in the Fed Ex Cup standings even after sitting out the opening round of the playoffs. Tiger teed it up in the Deutsche Bank last weekend and is in the field this week at Cog Hill.

I think if you earn enough Fed Ex points to be in the top three heading INTO the playoffs, you should have the option to skip the first but ONLY the first tournament. Similar to the Chargers, Ravens, Bears and Saints earning a bye in the first round of the NFL playoffs last year.

But after that opening round, it's time to go to work. You hear the golfers talking about playing four straight weeks is a grind. It sure is but 16 rounds of golf can't come close to the physical toll of playing 16 games en route to the Stanley Cup championship.

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