If necessary, two playoffs will be held at East Lake

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Thanks to the restructured FedExCup points system that gives each player a mathematical shot to win the FedExCup title this week, the possibility exists of two sudden-death playoffs being held in case of ties after the end of regulation play Sunday.

Obviously, just like with any PGA TOUR event, a sudden-death playoff for THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola will be held if two or more players share the lead after 72 holes. That's what happened last year at East Lake when Camilo Villegas beat Sergio Garcia with a par on the first extra hole

And if there are two or more players tied for the FedExCup points lead after 72 holes, another sudden-death playoff will be held.

In both situations, the playoff will start at the par-3 18th hole. If another hole is needed, the 17th will be used and then the progression will be repeated as long as necessary to decide the champion.

In terms of order, the playoff to determine THE TOUR Championship winner will be held first. Then the drama would shift to the playoff to determine the winner of the 2009 FedExCup.

Of course, if no playoff is necessary to determine the tournament winner, then the playoff to determine the FedExCup champ will immediately start.

There are numerous scenarios that would require a playoff for the FedExCup.

For example, if Angel Cabrera wins THE TOUR Championship and Tiger Woods finishes 17th, the two will be tied at the top of the FedExCup. Ditto for a Hunter Mahan win and a Woods finish of 15th.

There could even be a four-way tie for first if Stewart Cink wins THE TOUR Championship and Woods finishes 21st, Steve Stricker sixth and Jim Furyk fourth. A host of other mathematical ties exist, too.

And remember that FedExCup points will be split up depending on ties for each position on the leaderboard. For example, if a player claims solo second place on THE TOUR Championship leaderboard, he gets 1,500 points. But if two players are tied for second, each one will receive 1,250 points (splitting the total points for second and third).