Golf-Playoff criticism too hasty, says Cink

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ATLANTA, Sept 11 (Reuters) - American Stewart Cink, one of four players on the PGA Tour's policy board, is upset some of his peers have criticised the inaugural FedExCup playoff series.

Negative comments have been made about the schedule and $10 million bonus in deferred compensation for the overall points champion but Cink believes it is too early to pass judgment.

"It (criticism) bothers me and the reason is because we don't know how this thing is going to be yet," Cink told reporters on Tuesday during preparation for this week's Tour Championship, the fourth and final playoff event.

"These playoffs were created in the last 18 months. There's no way to know how good a product it can be until we just kind of sit back and let it be a product without tainting it with negative stories that are not necessary.

"It's only going to be as successful as the fans perceive we think it is," added Cink. "If we really do embrace it and if it means something to us, then the fans are going to think so, and they're going to follow it and it's going to be big.

"But if we complain about it and we say there are too many tournaments in a row, deferred payment or whatever, then the fans are going to be turned off and it's not going to be a very good television show."

The much-trumpeted FedExCup playoff series was introduced by the Tour to breathe fresh life into the late-season events with a NASCAR-style finale.

Fan interest has generally waned once the final major, the PGA Championship, ends in mid-August and television ratings afterwards have steadily declined in recent years.