BMW Championship 2012: Analysis of Final Round Leaders

While enjoying the star-studded leaderboard in the final round of the BMW Championship, it dawned on me that maybe this FedEx Cup golf playoff is kind of cool after all. 

In previous years, the FedEx Cup has raised my interest slightly over the last four tournaments of the year, but that interest was still far below that which accompanies the four majors or other prestigious tournaments like the Players Championship. 

All of a sudden, I am drawn to the television to watch the action unfold at this tournament. How could any golf fan not be?

The fourth round of this tournament is in progress as I type (you can check an updated leaderboard here), but the list of players in contention for the win is unbelievable. 

Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods are right in the mix, and it is all thanks to the FedEx Cup. 

These players are geared up to shine in an attempt to grab the lucrative prize. There is no way these guys would even all be playing in this tournament without this playoff. 

So, all of this gives an excellent opportunity to compare the world's top golfers to see how they stack up. Let's get up to speed on the state of some of the top players' games. 

Rory McIlroy

If there was any question who was the best golfer on the planet prior to the FedEx Cup, Rory McIlroy has provided the definitive answer—everyone is looking up at young Rory.

He won the Deutsche Bank Championship last week, and he is extending his lead at the BMW as I type. 

The scariest part about all of this, is that Rory is not even playing his best golf. Like Tiger in his prime, Rory can beat all challengers even when he is slightly off, and he is proving that now. 

Tiger Woods

Speaking of Tiger, the golf legend is now not only chasing his own ghost, but also Rory. He is not up to the challenge to catch either, but he is closing in on it. 

Tiger is making big gains in his consistency. He tied for 38th at the Barclays, the first FedEx event, came in third last week at the Deutsche Bank Championship and is likely headed for a Top Five at the BMW. 

This is a fantastic sign in his bid to get back to the top. He is hitting less errant drives, and while his putting is not where it needs to be, he is gaining confidence back in his stroke. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has had an up-and-down year. He picked up a victory early in the season at the Pebble Beach Pro Am and finished third at the Masters. But it was largely downhill from there as he did not finish higher than 36th and missed a cut in the final three majors. 

So it is great to see him end his year on a high note. He was 38th at the Barclays and tied for fourth last week at the Deutsche. 

He is currently tied for second at the BMW and looking strong. This is the Phil Mickelson golf fans have come to know, and he is making it clear that he is not ready to be counted out when talking about the world's best.