Perry Tour Champion, Woods FedEx Cup Holder?

Golf writer Andy Reistetter is on site at The Tour Championship Presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia and is providing daily reports covering the action both inside and outside the ropes.

Forget the Harrington-Woods matchup…it's all about the old guy Kenny Perry facing down gunslinger Tiger Woods in the Playoff Finale at East Lake.

The old guy is hot, hot as can be after firing 66-64 over the last two trips around the golf course upon which the legendary Bobby Jones learned the game of golf.

Perry started Saturday's third round with four straight birdies and made the understatement of the year about it in the media center.

"Well, four birdies in a row puts you in a good mood is all I can say."

Woods is intent on winning his 72nd PGA Tour victory, not the FedExCup.

"I'd much rather just win the tournament, and the FedExCup will take care of itself." 

"As of right now, I'm two (strokes) back and have an opportunity to win the tournament, and that's what I'm going to focus on tomorrow."

Tiger knows Kenny Perry.

"Golf is not his No. 1 priority, his family is.  He has other interests off the golf course such as racing, which he loves to do. I think he's made a resurgence over the last few years, I think just because he's seen that 50 is coming up."

Tiger knows Kenny's game too which is basically a right-to-left draw.

"(Kenny) work(s) the ball only one way."

Perry would tell you the same thing especially when asked about his four birdie run to start the day.

"(On the) second hole I hit a beautiful five‑iron from 223 or whatever it was, back left pin.  That's where I like them; kind of hit my little draw in there about eight feet right of the hole."

"(On No. 6) I hit an eight‑iron to about eight feet past the hole.  It was another beautiful golf shot to that back left pin." 

If there are several back left hole locations on Sunday then "advantage Perry."

Don’t count out Phil Mickelson (66) or Sean O'Hair (70) who are tied for third place four strokes back of Perry and two strokes behind Woods.

If Perry falters and Woods has a mediocre day then Padraig Harrington (71) five strokes back or even Steve Stricker (66) or Ernie Els (71) could come from six strokes behind the leader and win the tournament.

The FedExCup and its $10 million prize are all Tiger Woods unless he falters badly.

Sean O'Hair was seemingly in control and in contention for the final pairing on Sunday when unexpectedly he hit his tee shot on No. 17 into the water and walked away with a double bogey.

He summarized everyone's thoughts about the final round.

"You know, it's going to be exciting tomorrow."

The ever-the-optimist Phil Mickelson who is 7-under par since his quadruple bogey 8 on No. 14 on Thursday shared his thoughts about possibly winning for a third time this year.

"To come back the way I have and play the way I have, I feel like I'm playing some really good golf, that no matter how many shots back I am, I think I'll still be a factor."

Who will win THE TOUR Championship? Who will win the $10 million FedExCup?

Kenny Perry the stand up guy who led the United States to Ryder Cup victory in his home state of Kentucky last fall put the $10 million FedExCup prize in perspective, his perspective.

"I'll tell you this; it's not going to change my life if I win the $10 million.  My life will stay the same.  But it will definitely give me some opportunities to help some people.  I want to start a foundation.  There are some things I want to do for charities.  It's definitely not going to change my life."

The 49-year old 14-time winner on the PGA TOUR is the epitome of the PGA TOUR's "giving back" program. His actions have always spoken louder than his words.

Heck Perry was named as the recipient of the 2009 Payne Stewart Award earlier this week as a player that respects the traditions of the game, upholds the game's heritage of charitable support and presents himself in a professional and meticulous manner.

During the last two seasons Kenny Perry has won five times. The only guy to win more is Tiger Woods with 10 wins.

Wouldn't they be a good team at Harding Park in two weeks against the Internationals?

Perry thinks so.

"I look forward to it.  I'm going to jab him a little bit tomorrow.  I want to be his partner in the Presidents Cup."

Winning THE TOUR Championship tomorrow would be the biggest victory of Perry's career.

Forget about the Masters' playoff loss to Angel Cabrera earlier this year.

This guy is a winner.

Heck why not throw in the $10 million FedExCup as well so he can start that foundation?

Good golf- play well gentlemen!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel.

Having attended the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Honda Classic, WGC-CA Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Masters Tournament, Verizon Heritage, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open at Bethpage, AT&T National, British Open at Turnberry, PGA at Hazeltine, The Barclays, and The Deutsche Bank Championship; the TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola at Eastlake is Andy's 15th event of the season.  

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]