Ins and Outs of the FedEx Cup

Certainly yesterday held a tremendous amount of pressure for some players. Many questions would be asked? Do I have to make up any more positions in order to advance? Who has to drop shots for me to have a chance? While it’s never good to wish ill-will upon a fellow player (you know, all that “karma’s a…”), you have to wonder if just once a player wasn’t saying (to himself) “miss it”.

Probably not. If you were in a position to be sent home or advancing on to East Like, you only had one person to blame…yourself. Brandt Snedeker took that approach earlier in the week when asked about his chances of making the Presidents Cup squad. More on that in a bit…

Here’s what happened over the week just outside Chicago…

1. The TOUR Championship cut

Prior to the start of the BMW Championship, nine spots were for the taking. After the third round, it looked like five of those spots had changed hands. When all was said and done, only three players took advantage of a couple of days of low scoring, including winner Justin Rose.

Playing their way into the top 30 were Rose (34th to 3rd), John Senden (55th to 9th), and Geoff Ogilvy (69th to 24th). Ogilvy is the surprise in that he was next to last in those playing this week, but a solo third place finish secured him a spot in teh final 30.

The three players that saw their season end even though they started the week inside the top 30 were Charl Scwartzel (27th to 32nd), Kyle Stanley (30th to 34th), and Rory Sabbatini (26th to 35th).

2. The top 5

Here was the top 5 before the BMW Championship

Image: Keith Allison via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

1. Webb Simpson
2. Dustin Johnson
3. Matt Kuchar
4. Luke Donald (right)
5. Brandt Snedeker

And here’ the top 5 after:

1. Simpson
2. Johnson
3. Justin Rose
4. Donald
5. Kuchar

Rose not only worked his way into the top 30, but the top 5. He now holds his own fate as they say along with Simpson, DJ, Kooch and Luke.

3. Presidents Cup

Just wanted to see if you were paying attention. There was no movement for the 10 spots on either team. Here’s how they stand…

So…it looks like US Captain Fred Couples has one pick to make since he’s already taken the liberty to tell Tiger Woods he will be one (you’ll get may catch on that soon). It will be the hardst selectio he wil ever have to make, too.