Cue the music.

Strange things were happening at the conclusion of yesterday’s tour championship. Tiger Woods, number one in the world, finished second place for the tournament, first place in Fed-Ex cup standings, and got a big trophy. Phil Mickelson finished first for the tournament, reclaimed his number two world golf ranking, and ended his season second in Fed-Ex cup points. He was awarded a somewhat less substantial trophy. If it sounds confusing it’s because it is. And we’re not the only ones left scratching our heads.

Many of the professional golfers playing on Sunday didn’t have the slightest clue where they stood in this crazy Fed-Ex Cup race, and throughout the final round, perplexing scenarios were put on the screen, outlining who needed to win, who needed to not win, and where everyone else needed to end up in order to achieve any given champion. Complicating matters further, when all the confusion was straightened out and the last putt fell, the obvious champion was crowned and the Fed-Ex Cup was labeled a success. Raise your hand if you were able to follow any of that.

Fed-Ex Cup aside for a moment, Sunday’s round of golf was an extremely interesting one. The Tiger Woods Grind Show continued as he scraped his way around the golf course, trying to legitimize what has already been an objectively dominant season. The curse of being the best, however, is a certain lack of objectivity when your greatness is being discussed. Tiger gets my vote for Comeback Player of the Year and Player of the Year. And as not to defy the confusion theme we have going, he also gets my vote for most disappointing season. It’s slightly frightening, but he really is that good.

Oh yeah, Phil Mickelson was playing golf yesterday, too. He even won. The return of Phil Mickelson to golf course glory is something even the most ardent of  Phil haters need to tip their cap at. Given the struggles that Phil and his family have had to endure this season, it’s a marvel the guy can even grip a club properly, yet alone dissect a championship golf course the way he did on Sunday. Here’s hoping that next year hitting a golf ball around is the biggest of Phil’s challenges.

There were other great golfers as well, and palpable tension. Kenny Perry fell short once again as some chunky chip shots and deteriorating putting placed him well outside of contention after starting the day in the final group. The short game master Steve Stricker saw things get away from him after a mud-ball on 16 failed to find the green. And Sean O’Hair, admittedly feeling nerves on the home-stretch, faded away quickly to close out a very solid season of golf.

To the Fed-Ex Cup’s credit, any format that can get the knees of the world’s best shaking a bit is probably doing something right, and when the two most popular golfers of the modern age find themselves battling on a Sunday, it’s hard to argue with results. No matter how confusing it was getting there.

Here’s quick look at the equipment Tiger and Phil used on their way to victories Sunday. No scoring system involved.

Tiger

Driver: Nike SQ Dymo
Fairway woods: Nike SasQuatch Sumo
Irons: Nike Victory Red Forged TW Blades
Wedges: Nike Victory Red 56° and Nke SV Tour 60°
Putter:  Scotty Cameron Newport 2
Ball: Nike One Tour

Phil

Driver: Callaway FT9
Fairway Woods: Callaway Big Bertha Diablo
Irons: (3-4) Callaway X; (5-PW) Callaway prototype blades
Wedges: Callaway X 54°, 60°, 64°
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG blade
Ball: Callaway Tour iX

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