Ohio Golf Journal October 2018

A TWO STROKE ADVANTAGE TO ÚNISH AT UNDER PAR (-11 + -2), but eventual runner-up, Billy Horschel WOULD HAVE ALSO ÚNISHED TIED WITH 7OODS AT an adjusted score of -13 under. The third-place ÚNISHER $USTIN *OHNSON ÚNISHED FOUR SHOTS behind Woods, in actual score this year. Under the new scoring format, he would have received a six-stroke handicap adjustment to total -13 under par to produce a three-way tie. One wonders, will that mandate a scorecard playoff, just like the member-guest at your club? Not so fast my friends. *USTIN 2OSE WHO CARDED A ÚNAL ROUND THREE OVER PAR ÚNISHED TIED FOR FOURTH PLACE THIS year. In 2019, however, he would have ended up with a better net score thanWoods, Horshcel or Johnson. His -6 under par total would be adjusted by eight shots to -14 under par, good enough to win both the Tour Championship and the $10 million FedEx Cup. Which is exactly what the PGATour, FedEx, The Southern Company and the television media want to happen. 7HEN ) ÚRST READ THE PRESS RELEASE DESCRIBING the new system my reaction was, “A handicap event…really?” )N A TYPICAL ÚRST TEE NEGOTIATION “I’ll give you two a side, and if I beat you by less than four shots you win.” That is exactly what the FedEx Cup is changing to. Hopefully the new handicap system won’t be as big a pain in the cerebral cortex as the current point system. The players will grumble and grouse, but they will show up. Especially with the new and improved bonus pool increasing to $60 million from the current $25 million. Plus, the winning share increase to $15 million, from a paltry $10 million. Players will still earn regular season points to determine who gets to the playoffs, but at least the contest for the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship should be easier to follow. It does mean, however, that Steve Sands will have to stick to post-round interviews only on Tour Championship Sunday. Ohi o Golf Journa l