Going Boom Boom

Fred Couples won't be doing any commercials promoting the PGA Tour's new FedEx Cup playoff system, which starts next season.
"I don't know anything about it. For a million dollars, I couldn't tell you what tournaments are in the FedEx Cup," Couples said after shooting a 3-under 69 in Thursday's opening round. "If I'm really playing well at the beginning of next year, then I'll worry about it."
The FedEx Cup is a NASCAR-like playoff system based on points for the top 30 players -- with the winner receiving $10 million. The final event in the four-tournament chase will be at East Lake in Atlanta, the home of the Tour Championship.
"I don't know why anyone would be excited about it," Couples said. "It's going to be the Tour Championship, and if Tiger Woods doesn't win it'll be because he doesn't play enough. You know, if Tiger Woods wanted to win any of this stuff, he would figure out a way to do it. But I don't see him playing, I don't know, six, seven or eight weeks to win the FedEx Cup. I can guarantee you one thing, he'll be ready to win the U.S. Open and the British Open and Augusta (The Masters) and the PGA."
Couples admitted he might get in trouble with the tour for his comments, but didn't seem to mind.
"I'm 47, not 30, and I don't really have a shot at winning $10 million and I can sit here and downplay it. Do I want to be in it? Yeah, because that will mean I've had a good year. I'm not going to win the FedEx Cup, but I still think I can win Augusta, and if I do that, then that will be a heckuva lot better than winning the FedEx Cup."
Couples then planted his tongue firmly in cheek.
"I am really looking forward to the FedEx Cup, though, I really am. Where are the four tournaments or five? Where are they so I can leave here and tell my friends?"
When told the tournaments would be at Westchester (N.Y), Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, Couples seemed surprised.
"So the Tour Championship is the FedEx Cup? I thought the Tour Championship was, like, the Tour Championship.
"They're getting rid of the basketball in the NBA and we're getting the FedEx Cup. Things are shaping up."