Tiger Woods has already ruined the FedEx Cup

You know what’s fun?

Writing a column that follows this formula:

Tiger Woods is hurting golf by skipping the name of event here because insert logical reason .

Not only is it entertaining, it also requires intense brainstorming and reporting.

Enter one of the Cut’s favorite sites, Chicagosports.com.

Ed Sherman has captivated us with his recent column on how Tiger Woods skipping the Barclays Classic is hurting the PGA Tour and its new FedEx Cup “playoff” system.

Never heard that one before, let’s hear what you have to say Sherman.

One suggestion though, you should probably start by telling us how good of shape Tiger is in, and how this contrasts him wanting to take a week off. Okay, go!

Tiger Woods talked constantly about how his intense conditioning program enabled him to handle the brutally hot weather in Tulsa. He said all those hours of running, lifting and stretching paid off when he won the PGA Championship.

Mission complete.

On Friday, though, Woods suddenly didn’t feel so great, announcing he wasn’t up to playing in the first event in the PGA Tour’s new playoff series, the Barclays Classic.

Bummer.

So what’s the deal? Woods, muscles popping out of his red shirt, looks as if he could make a bid to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the decathlon, if so inclined.

He better not. A bunch of people would be pissed if Tiger started destroying the decathlon as well as golf.

Yes, contending in a major is taxing, a mental and physical grind**, even when the conditions are in the 70s with a nice wind blowing. But runners-up Woody Austin and Ernie Els also endured the pressure, not to mention the heat, and they are playing this week.

**Note: Ed Sherman has won the Masters 7 times, the U.S. Open thrice and the PGA Championship once. Also, Woody Austin and Ernie Els need all the cash (and FedEx points) they can get.

The Fynal Out: Zoom, zoom, zoom

It was only a matter of time before he came back.

There are only so many levels of Guitar Hero one person can beat (I’m assuming).

But Joel Zumaya wasn’t the pitcher that stole the show for the Tigers in a crucial opening game of an A.L. Central showdown with the Indians.

Jair Jurrjens, who was called up from Double-A Erie just a few weeks ago, gave up just 1 hit in 6 2/3 innings of work and left Zumaya with a 2-1 Tigers lead.

The standing ovation that followed was a mix of anticipation for the young flamethrowers return and appreciation of a member of the starting staff (finally!) stepping up in a big game.

Indians 1, Tigers 2: Back-to-back homers from Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen was all the Tigers needed to hold on and cut the division lead to 1/2 game. Zumaya only pitched 1/3 of an inning, but retired the batter and ignited the crowd (and hit 99 mph on the gun).

Yankees 9, Angels 18: New York would have had a chance in this game had Garrett Anderson stayed home. The life-long Angel went 4-for-6 with 2 doubles, a 3-run shot and a grand slam to rack up 10!!!! RBI to crush the Bombers. Things are looking grim in the A.L. East.

Padres 6, Mets 7: Even though Arizona has lost some of its swagger lately (3 straight losses), San Diego hasn’t been able to make up any ground. They were left demoralized again Tuesday night after Luis Castillo’s walk-off RBI single. Carlos Beltran added 5 RBI.

Dodgers 4, Phillies 5: Strangely enough, the Mets’ walk-off win helped the Phillies. Although Philadelphia couldn’t make up any ground in the N.L. East, the Padres loss paired with the Phillies edging of the Dodgers left the two teams tied for the Wild Card lead.

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