Some massive names lacking, however nonetheless massive cash forward at Tour Championship

MEDINAH, Sick. — The sphere for the Tour Championship is about, and why it’s even being known as that continues to be a little bit of a thriller. It is all in regards to the FedEx Cup, the season-ending event on the PGA Tour schedule and the fruits of a three-tournament playoff sequence.

So, actually, it is all in regards to the cash.

Positive, the winner in Atlanta might be credited with a tour victory even when he does not shoot the bottom 72-hole rating, and he’ll haul away a cool Cup, though it is unclear if it could be large enough to carry the $15 million.

When the PGA Tour unveiled its FedEx Cup format in 2007, a lot of the thrill was in regards to the cash. It was a sure-fire approach to appeal to consideration in addition to the gamers, who drifted aimlessly following the PGA Championship because the golf season limped to a conclusion previous to the FedEx Cup format.

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Again then, the bonus cash to the winner was a whopping $10 million. This 12 months, that’s going to $15 million, with an total pool of $60 million being divvied up.

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Brooks Koepka all however mentioned as a lot when he replied to a Twitter troll calling him out for not “making an attempt laborious” and suggesting he cease taking part in and “go drive a truck.”

Koepka’s reply:

“Brink’s truck?”

Yep, that sort of sums it up this week in Atlanta, the place even the last-place end will earn $385,000.

Justin Thomas, who gained for the 10th time on the PGA Tour together with his victory on Sunday on the BMW Championship, will get to sleep on a two-shot lead for the subsequent a number of days earlier than he even tees off at East Lake.

As a part of the brand new format, there might be a staggered strokes begin against a FedEx Cup factors reset, that means that Thomas will begin at 10 below par, with Patrick Cantlay two strokes again at eight below, adopted by Koepka at 7 below all the way in which right down to the ultimate qualifier, Jason Kokrak, at even par.

As loopy because it sounds, it will likely be far simpler to comply with than in 12 months’s previous, because it’s now strokes on the scoreboard, factors eradicated. There’s that pesky matter of no separate event champion being topped, however the greatest potential concern was eradicated when Tiger Woods didn’t qualify for the Tour Championship.

He will not be capable of defend his title, however actually, there isn’t any title to defend. The one he captured final 12 months — his 80th PGA Tour title after 5 years with out a victory — is now not at stake. Solely the winner of the FedEx Cup will get a trophy. Had the identical guidelines been in place a 12 months in the past, Woods would haven’t been celebrating something.

“It is disappointing,” Woods mentioned. “I want I may have (certified). Final 12 months culminated in a fairly particular second for me and it could have been good to return there however I will be watching the blokes on TV.”

Woods won’t be alone in watching from afar. Another massive names may also sit out the Tour Championship.

Phil Mickelson, who gained the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am in February, by no means posted one other top-10 this season and had only one top-20. He ended up 48th within the factors.

“I’ve had a tough 4, 5 months,” he mentioned. “Most likely the worst 4, 5 months stretch of my profession. I am wanting ahead to having a few months off and sort of regrouping and are available again contemporary.”

Jason Day can also be wanting ahead to a break. The Aussie has struggled for many of this 12 months. Since tying for fifth on the Masters, he has posted only a single top-10 end. He has dropped to 22nd on the planet and got here in at 54th within the FedEx standings.

“Under common,” mentioned Day, who did not qualify for Atlanta for the primary time since 2012. “Very disappointing. I did not make the Tour Championship nevertheless it occurs. Wanting ahead to a while off.”

So is Jordan Spieth, who for the second straight 12 months did not qualify for the season-ending occasion, this time by a mile. Spieth, who has dropped to 31st on the planet, confirmed glimmers of progress this summer season, however nonetheless has not gained on the PGA Tour in additional than two years. He was 44th within the factors.

“I’ve simply gotten too inconsistent, too far off within the lengthy recreation,” Spieth mentioned. “It went right down to the brief recreation, however super enchancment in my placing. I do know precisely why I obtained off, what occurred and the right way to get it again.”

And so whereas some high-profile names might be lacking at East Lake, the likes of Thomas, Koepka, Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland, Tony Finau, Adam Scott, defending FedEx champ Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler will battle it out for the large cash.

So will Sungjae Im, Jason Kokrak and Abahram Ancer, all of whom certified for his or her first Tour Championship and thus the Masters.

The cash is good, however getting that Masters invitation may truly be value much more.