It started in Hawaii with too much hype and an equal dose of skepticism.
Eight months later, the FedEx Cup ends at East Lake with no need for promotion and no big surprises.
Tiger Woods arrived at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Wednesday with the best chance to capture the inaugural FedEx Cup and a $10 million deposit into a retirement fund, and he simply nodded his head when asked if $10 million still meant something to a guy who brings in close to $100 million a year.
Phil Mickelson is No. 3 in the standings after skipping last week. He will have to win the Tour Championship for any chance of capturing the cup, although he beat the world’s No. 1 player the last time they got together outside Boston.
In the middle is Cinderella, also known as Steve Stricker.
One of only two players who have finished in the top 10 all three weeks in the PGA Tour playoffs, he is the feel-good story of this FedEx Cup, having lost his card two years ago and coming into this season with just over $10 million in career earnings.
“Let’s face it, the FedEx Cup has been pretty blessed,” NBC Sports analyst Johnny Miller said. “This didn’t need to go down the way it did. It’s really between three players, and it could have been between three players no one is interested in.”
It all starts to unfold today when the top 30 players tee off at East Lake, where trophies will be awarded for the winner of the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. Rory Sabbatini (No. 4) and K.J. Choi (No. 5) have a mathematical chance of winning the FedEx Cup, although their odds are long.
The only damper on this parade is East Lake. The course no longer is bursting with autumn colors because the Tour Championship has been moved from the last week of October to the third week in September. And the hot weather has severely damaged the greens, although not nearly to the extent that PGA Tour officials warned players last week.
Hal Sutton became the 10th player to win the Payne Stewart Award since it began in 2000, when Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were the first recipients. It is given annually to a player who reflects Stewart’s respect for golf traditions, his charitable work and presentation in dress.
Woods is skipping the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, saying he wanted the longest break of his career to spend time with his new daughter.
Woods will be replaced in the four-man field at the Mid Ocean Club by alternate Jim Furyk.
