LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Every one of the 70 players in the BMW Championship knows exactly where he wants to be heading to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta for next week's Tour Championship, the finale of the FedExCup playoffs.
In the top five of the postseason standings.
"If I don't win this golf tournament, I want to put myself in position to be in the top five for next week. That's what's everybody's goal is this week, whether they want to admit it or not," Brandt Snedeker said Wednesday after his pro-am round at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Clubs. Snedeker, the defending FedExCup champion, is No.9 in the standings. "You get into the top five, it's all on you next week."
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While the primary goal for most of the players in the field is to move into or stay in the top 30 to advance to the final, a huge week could position a player on the inside track for the PGA Tour's biggest prize — the $10million that comes with winning the FedExCup. Only the top five at the start of next week are guaranteed of a chance at the title and the huge pot of gold by winning The Tour Championship.
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This system was put into place in 2009 — a points reset after this week gives all 30 players a mathematical chance to win the FedExCup, but only the top five control their destiny. Woods was No.1 in 2009 but won his second FedExCup without winning The Tour Championship. Last year, Snedeker became the only player to start the week in the top five (he was No.5) and win at East Lake to capture the FedExCup.
"You do not want to be on the outside looking in, because you can win the golf tournament and still lose the FedExCup," Snedeker said. "Everyone realizes that if you play well this week you can get into the top five and put the entire next week on your own shoulders."
Right now, the weight of the lead is on the shoulders of Henrik Stenson, whose first win of the year came in the second playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship. He leads Woods, a winner of five titles this season but none in the playoffs, by 14 points. Though it's highly unlikely, given the points structure, that Stenson, Woods and No.3 Adam Scott would fall out of the top five at the conclusion of the BMW Championship, no one has earned a guaranteed spot in the top five.
Stenson and Woods could fall to Nos.6 and 7, respectively, if Stenson finishes last this week, Woods second to last, Scott fourth, current No.4 Matt Kuchar third, No.5 Graham DeLaet second and No.6 Phil Mickelson wins.
"Going into East Lake, it's going to be my first time around there, and I'm just very happy and excited about having the chance to have it in my own hands coming into the last event," Stenson said. "Whether it happens or not, it's all about giving myself chances."
For Woods, in matters concerning the FedExCup, it's been all about positioning this year. "The first couple of years, there was really no drama going into The Tour Championship. I had won it outright and Vijay (Singh) had won it outright, and all we could do is just tee it up," said Woods, who got his first look at Conway Farms on Wednesday. "Now you're playing all year to be in the top five, and it's important to be in the top five.
"The Tour wanted excitement. The fans wanted excitement. Now, if you're in the top five and win at East Lake, you win the whole thing.
"That builds up some excitement."
Of course, excitement can be located outside the top five, as well. Just ask Bill Haas. He was No. 25 before winning The Tour Championship and the FedExCup in 2011. And in 2011, Jim Furyk was No. 11 before winning The Tour Championship and the FedExCup. Then again, they both need a lot of outside help to win the biggest prize on Tour.
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