Ponte Vedra Made a Mistake

The FedEx Cup format and presentation has been critiqued at length because of who it includes, how the points are distributed, where they money goes, the scheduling of events, and everything about its details. Even still, most commentators (myself included) drew the conclusion that the FEC is better for golf than its predecessor - nothing at all.

Doug Ferguson today confirmed that there were more events in which Tiger and Phil were in the same field, as well other better numbers related to Top 10 participation. The FEC did, in some fashion, achieve the goal of having the best play together more often and later in the season. The correlation may not be one-to-one, but there is at least some.

That's all well and good for the PGA Tour, even as tweaks are being made to the system. Still, though, the concept of the Fall Series turned out to be a flop on television and in attendance. The players were kind of unhappy with it and there are questions about its viability in the future. Ending the season, so to speak, in September has caused these last seven events - and the PGA Tour - to fall off of the sports radar earlier than it did before the FedEx Cup.

The results of the Fall Series do nothing but inspire George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour. O'Grady has said repeatedly that the European Tour we be able capitalize on the FedEx Cup. He has said that, beginning with the 2009 schedule, the Euro Tour will have a finale that will capture the golfing world's full attention.

The PGA Tour has dramatically helped him in that effort. Having seven weak events in a row on the PGA Tour is a perfect lob to the European Tour in scheduling a setup to a blistering finale series of events - a la the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The Euro Tour can consolidate great events like the Dunhill Links Championship and others in continental Europe as direct competition to the Fall Series. The Euro Tour is better, hands down, and that will likely encourage more Euros to stay at home after the Tour Championship.

Still, that does not address the PGA Tour restrictions upon its card holders to be granted three exemptions from the Tour for overseas appearances. It is impossible for PGA Tour players without European Tour status to set their schedules for a Euro swing while the PGA Tour is still in session. Don't worry, though the Tour made another mistake to help Mr. O'Grady.

The PGA Tour Fall Series season now ends in the first weekend of November. Right now, the European Tour season ends at the same time, with the next season beginning the week thereafter. Starting in 2009, though, that will change. The Euro Tour season will be 12 months and the next season will not begin in the previous calendar year. That means that the Euro Tour can plan a finale series in November and December that will rival, if not topple, the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoff Series. Rumored events for the finale include the Desert Swing, a trip through China, and other events.

Regardless of the rotation, the Euro Tour has several events already popular with Americans that they could realign in November and December to form a formidable challenge to the PGA Tour for strength of field, sponsorship money, and global attention. This would not have been possible had the PGA Tour not served up the Fall Series as a sacrificial lamb. After all, Mr. O'Grady has been reluctant to take on the PGA Tour directly and challenge its dominance. Now, though, he has been afforded an opportunity to dodge facing the Tour directly and still manage to make the Euro Tour look much better for it.