Inside the FedExCup: The leaders make their final push

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Scott Pianowski is The Fantasy Insider; Steve Dennis is a PGA TOUR staffer who digs through FedExCup points data for fun. (We don't get it, either.) They tend to analyze the TOUR from very different perspectives, and now they're going head-to-head in weekly e-mail exchanges focusing on the upcoming FedExCup Playoffs that start Aug. 18.

From: Steve
To: Scott
Subject: Fais comme chez toi, Mr. Reavie

Mickelson

So, how about Chez Reavie at the RBC Canadian Open? That was some kind of display for an untested rookie ... fighting off one of the hottest golfers on the PGA TOUR in Anthony Kim, keeping it together while sleeping on the lead every night. Chez may be the real deal.

This week (the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational) and next (PGA Championship), all the leaders come out to play. Phil Mickelson has to be looking to regain some of the momentum that Kenny Perry and Anthony Kim have picked up over the last couple of months.

Stewart Cink must be hoping to rebound from his first missed cut in six months at the Open Championship. Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk are still searching for their first victories of the year. When the dust settles, who do you like going into the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup?

From: Scott
To Steve
Subject: Five-Star Hotel

Chez Reavie is a great story, in part because it came from nowhere. Any logical person had to assume Anthony Kim was the man to beat entering Sunday at Glen Abbey.

But perhaps Reavie's straight driving and accurate irons gave out clues that I wasn't picking up on. In any event, any week we see a first-time winner, it's a banner week. Welcome to the club, kid.

Here's my watch list for the playoffs -- tell me if you'd take the field against this crew: Phil Mickelson because, well, he's Mickelson; Anthony Kim, because he's got the most upside of the 20-somethings (sorry Sergio); Jim Furyk, because he looks oh-so-close to busting out, I really like what he's done the last few weeks; Kenny Perry, because you can't ignore what confidence means to a veteran player; and Stewart Cink, because he's quietly having what might turn into his best year. I don't care if you go zone or man-to-man, you'll have a hard time stopping that Fab Five.

From: Steve
To: Scott
Subject: Open Season

Agreed, that quintet will be hard to beat. But I think there's a great chance the winner of The Barclays comes from outside the top 10, which would really open up the race for the Cup.

Marino

There are so many guys capable of winning on TOUR, and Ridgewood Country Club is a new venue for everyone ... somebody like Chad Campbell or Steve Marino (who made a great run in the final four holes at the RBC Canadian Open last week) could really shake things up.

We could easily have three different winners of the first three Playoff events, and at least five or six guys who could win the FedExCup with a victory in Atlanta. THE TOUR Championship this year could be the most exciting PGA TOUR event in a long, long time, with the title, the Cup and over $11 million on the line. Anybody else strike your fancy?

From: Scott
To: Steve
Subject: No soup for you

The catch with Campbell is always going to come around the green. He's generally been an average scrambler and putter, at best. This year he's actually rolling it well, but the other short shots remain an issue.

Ballstriking is great, and when Campbell hits a groove, he can fire at pins all day. But there's an emotional tax to pay when you don't feel like you're scoring as well as the tee-to-green game suggests you should be, and over four events, he may not have staying power.

On the flip side, I'm a big believer in Robert Allenby. I like guys who hit greens -- he's second in GIR. I like consistent players who make cuts -- he's got 18 in a row going. I like guys who are composed on the course without being drones, and Allenby fits that profile, too. Maybe I'm regretting never making that trek to Australia, but I always root for Allenby, and I think he's taken a step forward this year. I give him a shot any week he tees it up.

From: Steve
To: Scott
Subject: Risk-Reward

Good on ya, mate.

One last thing, circling back to Anthony Kim:

You have to like that he was gunning for the win on Sunday at the RBC Canadian, but the bogey-bogey finish dropped him from a probable tie for second to a tie for eighth, costing him 1,475 FedExCup points. With those 1,475 points, he'd currently be third behind only Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry -- effectively putting him second in the race for the FedExCup because of Tiger's injury -- instead of fifth. With all the leaders playing two more events before the reset, it may not matter. Then again, it may. And we're going to get to watch and see.