PGA Preview: 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs

PGA Tour Crunch time.  The FedEx Cup playoffs are here.  This week marks round one of the playoffs at the Barclays. On the line this week at the Barclays is a purse of $8 million with the winning share clocking in at a cool $1.44 million.  Almost more important than the money, is the 2500 FedEx Cup points.  Most tournaments during the PGA Tour season are worth 500 points, but in the playoffs wins are much more valuable. Bethpage State Park's Black Course is the host venue.  The Black course, located in Farmingdale, New York, was the infamously difficult host to the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens.  The course measures at 7,468 yards with a par value of 71.  The course is extremely difficult and will certainly test all of the players this week. Naturally the field will be star heavy this week, with the FedEx Cup on the line.  The top 125 in the FedEx Cup point standings are eligible this week. The featured grouping this week is huge.  Golf's two biggest stars will be battling each other.  Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory are paired together for the first two days.  Set your DVR now.  You're not going to want to miss this one.  Schedule below. Thursday 8/23      3:00 - 6:00PM GOLF Friday 8/24           3:00 - 6:00PM GOLF Saturday 8/25      1:00 - 2:30PM / 3:00 - 6:00PM Golf/CBS Sunday 8/26        12:00-1:30PM / 2:00 - 6:00PM Golf/CBS Champions Tour The Seniors are in Snoqualmie (don't ask me to pronounce that), Washington for the Boeing Classic.  This is a standard Champions Tour three day event with a purse of $2 million with the winner's share coming in at $300K.  Mark Calcavecchia is the returning champion. Host course this week is TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, a 7,264 yard par-72 track which is the only Jack Nicklaus design in the Pacific Northwest.  Jack designed this course as a dual purpose track.  The course is suitable for public play but still challenging enough to be a "TPC" course capable of hosting PGA Tour events.

Fri, 8/24: GOLF 6:30p - 8:30p ET

Sat, 8/25: GOLF 6:30p - 9:30p ET

Sun, 8/26: GOLF 7p - 9:30p ET

LPGA Tour The ladies are in Canada this week to contest the CN Canadian Women's Open. Purse of this week's 72 hole event is $2 million.  Returning champion is Brittany Lincicome. The host course is Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, BC, Canada.  This track is a heavily tree lined course with numerous water and sand hazards.  Rough in places can be very deep.  Total yardage for the ladies is 6,427 with a par of 72. TV Schedule Aug 23 - GC 6:30 PM-8:30 PM EST Aug 24 - GC 12:30 AM-2:30 AM EST Aug 25 - GC 3:00 PM-6:00 PM EST Aug 26 - GC 2:00 PM-6:00 PM EST