Jun. 30, 2008
When it comes to the FedExCup, the players on the PGA TOUR understand one important thing -- finishing the regular season in the top 30 in points is the best way to position themselves for the Playoffs and the $10 million first prize that awaits the champion.
Last year, going into the final event of the Playoffs -- THE TOUR Championship -- six players had a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup. All six were top 30 seeds entering the Playoffs.
Even with the revised point system that is in effect for this season, 12 players -- all top 30 seeds -- would have had a mathematical chance to win the Cup that was eventually claimed by Tiger Woods last year.
Meanwhile, no top 30 seed who made the cut in the first two Playoff events missed THE TOUR Championship, which is limited to 30 players.
Thus, the importance of being in the top 30 cannot be overstated. Here's how it breaks down for those players participating in this week's Buick Open. (For more on the FedExCup, click here. For current FedExCup standings, click here.)
| Currently in the top 30 |
| Justin Leonard |
4 |
11,902 |
Kenny Perry |
5 |
11,433 |
| Jeff Quinney |
16 |
11,777 |
Jim Furyk |
22 |
6,442 |
| Steve Lowery |
27 |
5,844 |
Daniel Chopra |
30 |
5,573 |
|
| Can move into the top 30 with ... |
| A top-10 finish (current rank) |
| Rod Pampling (33) |
Johnson Wagner (35) |
Brandt Snedeker (36) |
| Heath Slocum (37) |
Briny Baird (39) |
|
|
| A top-5 finish |
| Brian Gay (42) |
Ben Crane (45) |
Tommy Armour III (46) |
|
|
| A top-3 finish |
| Steve Marino (47) |
Ryan Moore (49) |
Mathew Goggin (50) |
| Nicholas Thompson (52) |
Rocco Mediate (54) |
Paul Goydos (55) |
| Dudley Hart (58) |
Cliff Kresge (59) |
Tom Pernice Jr. (60) |
|
|
| A top-2 finish |
| John Senden (62) |
Woody Austin (63) |
Peter Lonard (65) |
| Nathan Green (68) |
Charles Howell III (71) |
Greg Kraft (74) |
| Billy Mayfair (76) |
Bubba Watson (77) |
Corey Pavin (78) |
| Troy Matteson (79) |
Nick O'Hern (80) |
Alex Cejka (81) |
| Kevin Na (83) |
Parker McLachlin (83) |
|
|
|
| A win |
| Tim Wilkinson (86) |
Nick Watney (87) |
Charley Hoffman (88) |
| Scott Verplank (90) |
Mark Wilson (91) |
Dean Wilson (92) |
| Steve Flesch (93) |
Michael Letzig (94) |
Brett Quigley (95) |
| Charlie Wi (96) |
Dustin Johnson (97) |
Lucas Glover (99) |
| James Driscoll (100) |
John Rollins (102) |
Matt Jones (103) |
| Charles Warren (104) |
Jason Day (105) |
Shane Bertsch (107) |
| Joe Durant (108) |
Tom Lehman (110) |
Fredrik Jacobson (112) |
| Bo Van Pelt (113) |
Vaughn Taylor (116) |
Frank Lickliter II (118) |
| Ken Duke (119) |
Chez Reavie (120) |
Bob Estes (121) |
| Jesper Parnevik (123) |
Kevin Streelman (124) |
Jon Mills (127) |
| Kevin Stadler (128) |
Eric Axley (129) |
Tag Ridings (130) |
| Marco Dawson (131) |
Brad Adamonis (132) |
Jason Gore (133) |
| Justin Bolli (135) |
Patrick Sheehan (136) |
Gavin Coles (137) |
| Ryan Armour (138) |
Mark Hensby (139) |
Craig Kanada (140) |
| Chris DiMarco (141) |
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