PGA Player of the Year, FedEx Cup up for grabs this weekend

Golf will crown potentially three different winners this weekend: The TOUR Championship winner, FedEx Cup winner, and Player of the Year. The PGA tour will conclude its "regular" season with the TOUR Championship, the final event in the PGA's "playoffs", from East Lake Golf Club from Atlanta.

The PGA amended its playoff scoring system from the past two years, and the beneficiary is any of the top five players in the FedEx Cup standings. For those five (we'll cover them), it's simple. If you win this week, you win the FedEx Cup. Those five are:

1. Tiger Woods
The fact the Tiger is contending should surprise absolutely no one. He's won six times this year (including the at the BMW Championship at Cog Hill 2 weeks ago) while only entering 16 events.
2. Steve Stricker
Stricker has three victories this season. He'd could still be atop the FedEx Cup standings if not for a final round 77 at the BMW. That poor finish allowed Woods to overtake him in the overall standings.
3. Jim Furyk
Of the top 5 players, Furyk's the only one without a tourney win in 2009. He's made 19 cuts in the 21 tournaments he's entered and his consistency has gotten him to this point. Finishing 2nd last week didn't hurt either. He's a steady as they come and it always a threat to win a tournament.
4. Zach Johnson
Johnson has a couple of wins this year under his belt. He's not the longest hitter on tour, but his short game more than makes up for his lack of length. Pressure is a non issue as he's won a major, The Masters in 2007.
5. Heath Slocum
Heath has one win this year and it couldn't have come at a better time...the first event of the playoffs at the Barclays. The revamped playoff system has benefitted Slocum the most. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the pressure.

There are hundreds of scenarios where the 25 others competing at East Lake can win the Cup, but these five golfers hold their own fate. To check out these scenarios, go here at pgatour.com.

The Player of the Year debate is pretty much a two horse race, Woods and Stricker. Although Tiger leads the tour with 6 wins this year, some feel he must win this week in order to win Player of the Year. I'm not in total agreement. I think as long as Tiger finishes ahead of Stricker, Woods will get the nod. Of course, if Tiger wins, it really is a done deal and all the conversation that goes along with it is dead.

On the other hand, if Stricker pulls out a win this week and Woods struggles, it could be close. Stricker will have won the FedEx Cup and possess 4 wins. Two of those wins will have occurred in the playoffs and Tiger will have been in the field. Stricker will will have more victories in the playoffs (2) than Tiger (1). It could be hard pressed for anyone not to vote for Stricker under those circumstances.

Despite what events transpire at East Lake this weekend, it should create the most excitement outside of the majors.

I'm going totally outside the top 5 for my winner this week. I'm looking at Kenny Perry. He's made the cut in every tournament this year and a win at the TOUR Championship may make up for the disappointment of not winning the Masters. Here's one of those crazy scenarios. Perry can win the FedEx Cup if he wins and Woods finishes fourth or worse, Stricker finishes third or worse, and Furyk finishes third or worse.

Golf just got a bit crazier.