Say what you will about the FedEx Cup format – and many have said plenty – but nobody can claim that Sunday’s finish at East Lake lacked drama.
Despite the rain delays and the tortured logistics of trying to get 10 players (one-third of the Tour Championship field) out of Atlanta on time, the PGA Tour got exactly what it wanted: one putt for the whole enchilada. I happened to be watching Jim Furyk’s final hole from my parents’ living room, and as Furyk lined up his 2 1/2- footer, I raised my hand.
“I hate to interrupt,” I said, “but this putt is worth $10 million.”
My wife, who isn’t exactly the most ardent follower of the game, snapped her head around. “Wait, what?”
Once Furyk drained it and gave us a rare outburst of emotion, I explained the situation to my wife and my parents, who were equally dumbfounded. Then, I corrected myself: add the winner’s check to the Fed Ex Cup bonus, and that putt was actually worth $11,350,000.
How’s that for spectacular?
My mother had no idea who Furyk was, so I gave her some background, mentioning that he lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, just a couple of hours north of Orlando. As I said this, the cameras captured Tabitha Furyk giving her husband a long, long embrace.
“And now,” my wife said, “she can buy Ponte Vedra Beach.”
Not quite. But hey, we were sitting there on an NFL football Sunday talking about it. And wasn’t that the whole point behind the Fed Ex Cup in the first place?
Despite the rain delays and the tortured logistics of trying to get 10 players (one-third of the Tour Championship field) out of Atlanta on time, the PGA Tour got exactly what it wanted: one putt for the whole enchilada. I happened to be watching Jim Furyk’s final hole from my parents’ living room, and as Furyk lined up his 2 1/2- footer, I raised my hand.
“I hate to interrupt,” I said, “but this putt is worth $10 million.”
My wife, who isn’t exactly the most ardent follower of the game, snapped her head around. “Wait, what?”
Once Furyk drained it and gave us a rare outburst of emotion, I explained the situation to my wife and my parents, who were equally dumbfounded. Then, I corrected myself: add the winner’s check to the Fed Ex Cup bonus, and that putt was actually worth $11,350,000.
How’s that for spectacular?
My mother had no idea who Furyk was, so I gave her some background, mentioning that he lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, just a couple of hours north of Orlando. As I said this, the cameras captured Tabitha Furyk giving her husband a long, long embrace.
“And now,” my wife said, “she can buy Ponte Vedra Beach.”
Not quite. But hey, we were sitting there on an NFL football Sunday talking about it. And wasn’t that the whole point behind the Fed Ex Cup in the first place?
Watson joined Golf Channel in 2010 and serves as an anchor for Golf Central.
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