FanHouse Lee Janzen

As someone who prides himself in golf knowledge, I am not afraid to tell you this -- I had absolutely no clue how the FedEx Cup worked when it was initiated last year.

Sure, I read about it and knew it was coming up, but the whole system behind it just seemed unnecessarily complicated and a little bit ridiculous. Why can't they get the money until they retire?

Luckily for most, the PGA Tour tweaked the system a bit, making it a tad more friendly for the viewer and a lot less confusing for morons like myself. With the FedEx Cup playoffs kicking off this week at the Barclays, here is a quick guide to what exactly will happen over the next four weeks.

• Wait, How many players again? -- Last week was the final chance to get in the top-144 for this week's Barclays. Tiger Woods had the most points and Lee Janzen (no, seriously, that Lee Janzen) was the last guy in. After this week, the number will go to the top-120 at the Deutsche Bank Championship, then down to the top-70 playing the BMW Championship and will conclude with the top-30 at the Tour Championship. 144, 120, 70 and finally 30. Got it?

I like Dan LeBatard. He doesn't take himself too seriously, he's a solid writer, and he seems to annoy the hell out of Mr. Tony. But while chatting it up with the The Big Lead yesterday, he gave quite possibly the most ridiculous answer to an honest question since Phil Mickelson insisted he's grown an inch in the last year.

Q: LeBatard, what's your views on Tiger and whether or not he's an athlete and if he is, where does he rank among other greats?

LEBATARD: not an athlete.....what he does is a skill, not a sport....it is like being a brain surgeon or a seamstress.....golf isn't a sport....you can't be eating an apple during key moments of athletic triumph.....that said, he's a better athlete than everyone else doing that.....but it isn't a sport when someone carries your stuff and the most grueling thing you do is walk

Wow, that's short-sighted. Maybe LeBatard was joking (Mr. Tony plays golf!), but let's assume he wasn't. What makes an athlete? That's kinda tough to answer, but does anybody consider Dmitri Young more of an athlete than Woods? And is baseball more of a "sport" than golf? I mean, didn't Manny take a water bottle with him to left field a few years ago? Is that any better than eating an apple (or in Young's case, a pizza)?

Not to quote the Weepies, but the world spins madly on with the FanHouse Media Guide.

• Fredrik Jacobson -- t-5 -- Jacobson is the typical European golfer that you see randomly in a major playing well, take the needed time to remember his name and then you don't hear of him again for five years. I hate that.

• Lee Janzen -- WON -- Ok, trivia time. Did you know there are nine golfers that have won a major championship with a "Z" in their name? Janzen is one, can you name the other eight?

• Miguel Angel Jimenez -- t-2 -- Not a doubt in my mind that Jimenez is my favorite Spaniard golfer in his 40s with a dyed ponytail that looks like an extra from every movie with pot and people laughing.

• Brandt Jobe -- t-33 -- Jobe has played on Tour so long, he was around back when the Nissan Open was still called the Los Angeles Open. Never a winner on the big boys tour, Jobe has notched ten wins around the world.

• Dustin Johnson -- DNP -- This is his first year as a full time PGA Tour pro and he's doing well, notching two top-10s thus far. Never a problem when playing a lengthy course, Johnson is third on tour in driving distance (307.1).

• Zach Johnson -- t-45 -- Who knew Drake University was the new Oklahoma State? Johnson (pictured) went from obscure golfer to occasional favorite after his Masters win last year. He will struggle with the distance of Torrey Pines but if his wedge play is on, it won't matter. Also, if it looks like he's going to win, you can skip church on Sunday because he tends to give a sermon during his victory speech.

• Robert Karlsson -- t-45 -- Not a lot of experience at the U.S. Open, but a top-10 at this year's Masters should have him ready for similar conditions.

• Martin Kaymer -- DNP -- The 23-year-old German is being touted as the "Next Big Stud Who Will Probably Dominate the Americans in the Ryder Cup," winning his first European Tour event earlier this season. Kaymer shot a 59 in the second round of the Habsberg Classic in 2006, following that up with a 62 the next day. Also, he won that tournament (shock ensued).

• Shingo Katayama -- t-35 -- Most famous for always rocking the Nike cowboy hat, Katayama has won 24 times on the Japan Golf Tour. Also, on the Japan Golf Tour website, they give six profile categories -- full name, birth date, birth place, height, weight and blood type?! Huh?

• Jerry Kelly -- t-7 -- A grinder on tour, Kelly has only two top-10s in majors, both coming in 2007. Also, Kelly helps his brother-in-law, Jim Schuman, coach the University of Wisconsin golf team.