PGA Tour handing out 10 million dollar to season champion in 2007

NEW YORK, June 29 (Reuters) The 2007 PGA Tour will build up to a four-event playoff beginning in August with a final points leader claiming 10 million dollar as champion of the season, commissioner Tim Finchem has said.

The FedExCup series will begin with the Barclays Classic outside New York on Aug. 23. It continues in two successive weeks at Boston's Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship near Chicago before ending at The Tour Championship in Atlanta.

''This will provide a stronger ending to our season,'' Finchem told a news conference. ''Unlike other sports we have no playoffs and we wanted to access that kind of enthusiasm and excitement.'' Players will earn points from every tour event, with more points on offer at World Golf Championship tournaments. The top counting events will be The Players Championship and the four majors.

The leading 144 players in the points list after the Carolina Classic which ends on Aug. 19 will make up the field for the first three playoff events.

After the BMW Championship, the top 30 advance to the Tour Championship starting a month later.

Finchem said the system was worked out after talks with the players. Videotaped comments from leading golfers were shown.

''It's an exciting time for golf,'' said world number one Tiger Woods. ''It's a no-brainer. We're doing the right thing.'' EXCITING PRODUCT World number two Phil Mickelson said: ''It has the top players playing against each other, which is a much more exciting product for the fans.'' Second place in the series standings will pay