Just five players have their own destiny and with it a $10million bonus in their hands in this week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Each of the 30 players in the field at East Lake has a chance to win the bonus by claiming the FedEx Cup title, but only the top five in the standings know that would be guaranteed with a win on Sunday.
The remaining 25 will need victory and help from the top five of Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar, with leader Woods able to finish as low as 29th and still have a mathematical chance of winning.
Open champion Phil Mickelson needs to win the Tour Championship which itself has a first prize of 1.4 million US dollars -and for Woods to finish third or worse, while US Open champion Justin Rose needs a similar scenario.
Former world number one Luke Donald, who scraped into the event in 28th by finishing fourth in the BMW Championship on Sunday, needs a win and for Woods to finish 25th or worse.
“I’m excited to be back,” Woods said.
“The play-offs has been pretty successful, I’ve got to the number one spot coming into the Tour Championships which is where I wanted to be, especially having the year that I have had. Winning five times this year has been pretty good and to have the number one spot, like the other four guys in the top five we control our destiny. I am looking forward to the week.
“I think I’ve had a good run here. I’ve won twice and finished second four times. That’s not too bad over the course of my career here.”
Woods has won five times on the PGA Tour this season, although the world No 1 failed to add to his tally of major titles, which has been stuck on 14 since the 2008 US Open.
Asked if he thought 2013 had been one of his most consistent seasons, he added: “I won some big events this year, two World Golf Championships, a Players (Championship) and Jack (Nicklaus) and Arnold’s (Palmer) tournament. I think that’s been a pretty good year.
“I think that I’m excited the way I’ve put together my last couple of years and coming off the injuries, a lot of people thought I would never win again, and here we are with some more wins.
“I think that the way I’ve come back from my injuries and have demonstrated that I can play at a very high level and attain a world ranking that not too many people have ever gotten to, and I’ve gotten to it again….it’s something that I’m very proud of.”