FedEx Fever

I'm not sure I have enough time for even an abbreviated post, but I'll give it a 

The end is nigh, and as typically is the case, it's with a whimper.... I know in Commissioner Ratched's mind it's an earth-shattering kaboom, but he really needs to get out more.

On the positive side, there are those that take the world as they find it, such as Jordan Spieth from his Wednesday presser:

Q. There's been a lot of talk about you being part of a new big three of golf, obviously with Rory and with Jason. Maybe Rickie is going to be part of a big four. But, overall, your take on that and what do you think the three of you specifically, you won five of the last six Majors, what do you guys bring to the sport as a whole? 

JORDAN SPIETH: Well I think that the big number, whatever it is, changes, I've seen it change week-to-week out here. 

There was big two, there was big one, there was big two, there was big three, there was big two, there was big four. I mean, Brooks Koepka wins this week, it's the big five. You know, it's what it is.

Hey, the Jordan Spieth era is so last year.  And at least according to Joel Beall, Jason Day wins POY, though in this case it's for Presser of the Year, including:

"It's like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlory had a baby – and I was it."

Jase, I'm trying to get some breakfast down here...

And these:

On what he'd do with the $10 million FedEx Cup prize: "I might buy a few more v-necks from Target." 

On if that financial reward might affect his play: "Yes of course...It did in 2011 and I choked."

It doesn't suck to be Jason Day... And Joel is not a guy afraid to revisit his assumptions.  A few weeks ago he had these rather intemperate words about East Lake:

Q: Hey, those are some nice courses! I'm guessing the same applies to the Tour Championship, right? 

A: About that... 

Q: What's wrong? 

A: Well, not that there's anything wrong, per se, about East Lake Golf Club, site of the Tour Championship. It's a Donald Ross design and was a former home to Bobby Jones. Unfortunately, it lacks the pizzazz you'd want out of a season-ending venue. Put it this way: East Lake is like a ham-and-cheese sandwich. Perfectly suitable, gets the job done...but you're not bragging, or necessarily even happy, about having one. 

Q: Huh. Have you ever played there?

A: Nope. And after that description, I'm guessing I never will.

Joel comes away more favorably disposed to the track, though still with some qualifications.  The most surprising part is that this, which looks remarkably similar to the epic grilled cheese I had at Glen Arbor yesterday, is not the basis for his revised opinion:

And did I mention the Glen Arbor french fries?  I'll try to get to that later...

And what would a Tour Championship be without a State of the Fortress Ponte Vedra presser from the Commish?  If, like your humble correspondent, you're thinking that fresh blood is warranted, you'll draw the obvious conclusions from this:

“That decision isn’t really too hinged on the general flow of how we are doing,” Finchem said. “We have two or three projects here on the horizon and it’s more of a question of how far into those projects I want to stick with it?” 

The policy board would have to approve any extension to Finchem’s contract and that group only has one meeting remaining this year. 

“We’ll work through it the first half of next year,” Finchem said.

For those that don't speak Vulcan, that roughly translates as..."I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too."

But couldn't one of those alleged journalists follow up with an inquiry as to what those projects might be?  Shack did some first class Fisking of the Commish, so let's plagiarize link to his good work:

“I think this is, in many ways, our strongest year,” he said. “It really is interesting when you look at the players who are here this week and their ages and what’s happened.”

Beyond the players, Finchem expressed a bullishness for having more than 60 percent of sponsors signed on for five years or more, that “PGA Tour Live” has been launched and for the continued health of the FedEx Cup playoffs. “I’ve never been more excited for the future,” Finchem said. 

And we can just feel it oozing through the screen!

Geoff, are you immune to the man's vast chirisma?

And this:

Finchem said television ratings illustrated the impact of the rise of the new wave.

"Our broadcast numbers are up over 20 percent over the previous year, which is a stunning increase and has to do with the number of playoffs, the attractiveness of the players who are competing and winning," said Finchem.

"And all that adds up to us being very bullish as we look forward to the next four or five years."

While it's nice to see an uptick, these merely restored 2012 levels.

Geoff, you're such a cynic.... can'y you learn from the consistently sunny optimism we maintain here at Unplayable Lies?