Irish Golf Desk

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Can Harrington win $10m without winning?

The FedExCup has a problem that could undermine its credibility. It's unlikely to happen but Padraig Harrington and Jim Furyk can still take home the $10m jackpot without winning a tournament all season.

Heading into the climaxing Tour Championship at East Lake it is still mathematically possible for either man to finish top of the biggest pile of money in golf.

It's a nightmare scenario for the PGA Tour, but it could happen.

Harrington can finish second at the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup if Woods finishes 10th or worse while Steve Stricker finishes fifth or worse, Jim Furyk fourth or worse, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum third or worse and the following players do not win: O’Hair, Verplank, Kenny Perry, Jason Dufner, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Geoff Ogilvy, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen.

Furyk could finish second at East Lake and win the FedEx Cup if Tiger Woods finishes fourth or worse while Steve Stricker finishes third or worse and the following players do not win: Zach Johnson, Heath Slocum, Harrington, Sean O’Hair and Scott Verplank.

In fact, Furyk could finish third and still take home the dosh if other results go his way.

The big stumbling block is Woods but he has just one win from six Tour Championship appearances at East Lake finishing 20th in 1998, second in 2000, tied seventh in 2002, second in 2004 and 2005 before winning there for the first time two years ago.