ATLANTA (AP) — The $10 million had not been deposited into Tiger Woods' retirement account when PGA Tour officials huddled at headquarters to begin a review of the inaugural FedEx Cup.
Don't hold your breath waiting for changes.
The big announcement coming out of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., this week is a drug policy that will begin in 2008, although the tour is moving with great caution. This is something it has to get right the first time.
There was always room for error with the FedEx Cup.
Even before K.J. Choi struck the first tee shot of the season at Kapalua, tour officials conceded they probably would have to make a few changes that wouldn't be obvious until the FedEx Cup ran its course.
For the most part, they got it right.
They wanted the first eight months of the season to be significant, and one only has to look at Rich Beem for the answer. He played some of his best golf when the PGA Tour Playoffs began, but because he virtually went AWOL from January to the middle of August, he started too far down in the standings to last more than two weeks.
They wanted to define a season champion, and Woods won by a mile. Any questions?
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was over the top when he first described the final four events of the FedEx Cup as "the most impactful series of events in the history of the sport."
But it showed there was room for compelling golf after the majors, and it was some of the most entertaining golf of the year.
Steve Stricker winning at The Barclays might have been the most sentimental victory this year. Boston brought together Woods and Phil Mickelson for three of four rounds, including the final round on Labor Day, with Lefty scoring a rare victory that he considered the most significant this side of a green jacket or Wanamaker Trophy.
Woods owned the last two events, shattering scoring records at Cog Hill and East Lake. He played them in a combined 45 under par and sent everyone home wondering — perhaps dreading — if his best golf is still to come.
Best of all, the meaningful part of the season ended four days before autumn. That's one promise the FedEx Cup delivered.
But that doesn't mean it was perfect.
