Big Changes in Store for 2007 PGA Tour Season

PGA Tour Introduces FedEx Cup for 2007 Season

The PGA Tour has big changes in store for the 2007 men's professional golf season. For the first time ever, the PGA Tour will create a playoff system that is being called the FedEx Cup. Playoff formats are extremely successful in other professional sports, and create a level of excitement that is unparalleled during the regular season. However, the playoff system will be a new addition to the world of golf that should shake things up on the PGA Tour. Traditionally, professional golfers play four major tournaments each season: the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. There are other PGA tournaments on a weekly basis throughout the golf season. The PGA season would then culminate in the season-ending Tour Championship, which includes only the top thirty golfers on the PGA Tour's money list. The Tour Championship usually takes place around the first week of November. After the Tour Championship, what's known as the "silly season" begins. The silly season is essentially a collection of paid-appearance golf events that are hosted by big corporate sponsors. These events usually include only a few big-name professional golfers, and are not sanctioned by the PGA Tour. The silly season lasts throughout November and December each year.

Beginning in 2007, however, the traditional PGA Tour season format is about to change. There will still be four major championships, which will continue to be the biggest golf events of the year. However, the FedEx Cup will create some added drama, in addition to the four golf majors. Consider it a little bit of bonus excitement after the PGA Championship, which had been the last big event of the year in seasons past. The FedEx Cup, much like NASCAR's Chase to the Nextel Cup, will be based on a season-long points race. At the end of the PGA Tour season, there will be a four event playoff to determine the FedEx Cup Champion, who will win $10 million.