GOLFER SUPREMACY RANKINGS

With FedEx Cup, Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour give Tiger Woods one more thing to win

By William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

Trouble golfing? Get hypnotized! Check eBay for really bad golf gifts Steve Stricker has FedEx Cup stricken Tiger Woods reigns supreme

When we first saw the premise for the FedEx Cup playoffs, we here at the Golfer Supremacy Rankings thought to ourselves, "Wow, how nice of Tim Finchem to give Tiger Woods an extra $10 million." Now, after three weeks, we're thinking, "Wow, Tiger Woods will really be excited to get that $10 million in 10 million yearly installments of $1, or whatever the payoff structure is."

As you can see, the FedEx Cup really has us thinking.

One other thing it has us thinking is this: It's given us one extra thing to think about. Because last year, we were just sitting around talking about how amazing it was that Tiger kept winning tournaments. This year, we get to sit around talking about how amazing it is that Tiger keeps winning tournaments, and that he's leading the FedEx Cup points chase.

That's a 100-percent growth in Tiger-related thoughts, if you happen to be a statistician. Therefore, we have an idea that Finchem will love - put all the tournaments into groups of four, then give it a name, then call someone a grand champion when someone wins. It can't miss. Then we'll be wondering who's leading what tournament and how many points they have in this chase and that chase and who has more thingamigigies in that thingamijaggie. It will be ridiculous, totally uncontrived fun, we tell you. Plus, he'll totally be forcing Tiger and Phil Mickelson to play all the time.

But that's just the random blathering of one golf rankings system. Your results may vary. Because, after all, some turkeys just won't fly.

Golfer Supremacy Rankings

1. Tiger Woods

Comments: By finishing the show in style at the BMW Championship with a final round of 63, Woods won for the sixth time this season on the PGA Tour, won for the 60th time in his career, earned more than $9 million once again, took the lead at the FedEx Cup and got in a slam on Sergio Garcia along the way. That's a pretty solid day at the links if we do say so ourselves.

2. U.S. Walker Cup Team

Comments: The U.S. squad got the job done away from home for the first time in 16 years as they put away the team from Britain-Ireland to defend the Walker Cup title. In case you haven't noticed, things may be turning around for the U.S. in international sports. First, the U.S. National Basketball squad got its "Dream Team" on and looked seriously dominating in an undefeated run at the Olympics Qualifying tournament in Las Vegas. Now the Walker Cup. With the Solheim and President's cups coming up, here's hoping golf can keep the U.S. hot streak going.

3. Stacey Lewis

Comments: Lewis, an amateur, took home the trophy at the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship. Sadly, the University of Arkansas student can't get the win, as the rain-delayed tournament was stopped after just 18 holes, and the LPGA doesn't count tournaments that are less than 36 holes. So tough break for Lewis, but she did get to keep the trophy, which is one more LPGA Tour trophy than Michelle Wie has.

4. Tim Hart

Comments: Hart had his ball get closest to the center at Winchester Golf Club in Winchester, Ind., as the Randolph County YMCA held a contest where they sold 650 golf balls for $10, rented a helicopter and dropped the lot of them. Sounds like a fun way to make a little money, and reminds me of my favorite scene ever from the TV Show "WKRP in Cincinnati," where for a Thanksgiving giveaway, they decided to toss live turkeys from a helicopter. In this helicopter promotion, Hart won $750, and no turkeys were injured.

Random Quote: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

- Arthur Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati

September 11, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.