This Week at WorldGolf.com: Sept. 25, 2007

PGA Tour's FedEx Cup was misguided, and the rest of golf's 'season' will suffer

The PGA Tour misfired with the FedEx Cup - but not in the way you might be thinking.

Forget the fact that the Cup turned out to be largely a foregone conclusion. Forget the inane point system and that much maligned $10 million deferred winner's check (though look for that to be scrapped next year).

PGA Tour officials misfired with the Cup because of when they chose to hold it. Now, the Tour has taken the last few months of the season - a time of weaker tournaments and waning audience interest - and rendered it even more meaningless.

The Tour's so called "Fall Series?" I cannot think of anyone caring about this less. We can now look forward to about two months of such gallery-packed events as the Viking Classic and the Valero Texas Open (with perhaps only this week's Presidents Cup and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf - a pointless event - thrown in to break our boredom). True, these events would be snooze fests any year. But the FedEx Cup was so hyped that these events following it by necessity had to fall down a few rungs on the prestige ladder (and they weren't that high to begin with).

Who's going to play in these tournaments? If last week's leaderboard at Turning Stone is any indication - Steve Flesch, Michael Allen, John Mallinger - the answer is: Nobody.

One of the stated reasons behind the FedEx Cup was to finally give golf a true postseason. Who ever heard of a true postseason followed by three more months of competition? This is what made the FedEx Cup feel arbitrary and artificial.

I have said before that the concept of the FedEx Cup is not a bad one. The PGA Tour needs to grow its audience (though really only among golfers). But one never felt that much thought - /real /thought - went into this year's first installment.

If you really want to make the golf season interesting the year through, spread out the majors a bit more. If the Tour is married to the FedEx Cup (you'll see it again next year), hold it later and follow it with, well, nothing - so golfers can go home, hang up those spikes and rest for the next season.

That's what they've already done - in September.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Austin's one-two combination: great golf and live music

Austin, Texas' live music scene has the reputation as one of the best in America. But it also has a lot to offer golfers. Combine great golf courses like Falconhead Golf Club with venerable music venues like Antone's and you've got a perfect golf destination for those who relish live music - players who want to follow 18 holes with a great live show.

Contest: Review a golf course, win a free Gotham golf book!

East Lake Golf Club helping to revive Atlanta, Georgia

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Contraband Bayou Golf Club in La. in full swing after hurricanes

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Also: Louisiana home to good golf, even better food