Golf: PGA Tour winner to get $17m

NEW YORK - The 2007 PGA Tour will build up to a four-event playoff beginning in August with a final points leader claiming US$10 million ($17 million)as champion of the golf season, commissioner Tim Finchem said today.

The FedExCup series will begin with the Barclays Classic outside New York on August 23. It continues in two successive weeks at Boston's Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship near Chicago before ending at The Tour Championship in Atlanta.

"This will provide a stronger ending to our season," Finchem said.

"Unlike other sports we have no playoffs and we wanted to access that kind of enthusiasm and excitement."

Players will earn points from every tour event, with more points on offer at World Golf Championship tournaments. The top counting events will be The Players Championship and the four majors.

The leading 144 players in the points list after the Carolina Classic which ends on August 19 will make up the field for the first three playoff events.

After the BMW Championship, the top 30 advance to the Tour Championship starting a month later.

Finchem said the system was worked out after talks with the players.

"It's an exciting time for golf," world No 1 Tiger Woods said. "It's a no-brainer. We're doing the right thing."

World No 2 Phil Mickelson said: "It has the top players playing against each other, which is a much more exciting product for the fans."

Second place in the series standings will pay US$3m and third spot will be worth US$1m, in addition to the prizemoney at each of the closing events.

After the Carolina Classic, the top 144 players will be seeded according to their FedExCup ranking with the points reset.

The leader will go into the playoff series with 100,000 points, with second place on 99,000 points and a graduated drop on down, allowing players down the list to jump up with a victory or strong finish.

- REUTERS