ELS, STRICKER, MICKELSON, ROSE, WOODS, SLOCUM AMONG THOSE COMPETING

The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup begin this week at THE BARCLAYS, the first of four playoff tournaments to determine the FedExCup champion.  CBS Sports broadcasts the third and final rounds of the star-powered tournament on Saturday, Aug. 28 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Aug. 29 (2:00-6:00 PM, ET), from Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., live on the CBS Television Network. 

Jim Nantz, the 2008 and 2009 Emmy Award Winner for "Outstanding Sports Personality - Play-by-Play" and 2008 and 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year, serves as anchor of CBS Sports' golf coverage. Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six major championships and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, serves as lead analyst. Ian Baker-Finch calls the action at the 17th hole and Gary McCord at the 16th hole.  David Feherty and Peter Kostis serve as on-course reporters.

 Ernie Els remains No. 1 in the current FedExCup standings and has led for 22 consecutive weeks. Last year, Els tied for second at The Barclays, an event he won in 1996 and 1997.  In addition, he has seven top-five finishes, the most in the tournament's history.  Defending champion  Heath Slocum returns to The Barclays and takes on the top players in the FedExCup standings including Els, Steve Stricker (No. 2), Phil Mickelson (No.4) and Justin Rose (No. 5).   Tiger Woods, last year's winner of the FedExCup and in 2007 enters the PGA TOUR Playoffs ranked No. 112 in the FedExCup standings. He needs to finish 50th or better to advance to the Duetsche Bank Championship. Woods won the inaugural Playoffs in 2007 but missed the Playoffs in 2008 while recovering from knee surgery.  He finished tied for second last year at Liberty National, one stroke behind Slocum.   

The top 122 of 125 players from the PGA TOUR regular-season, based on FedExCup points, will play this week at The Barclays.  Among the other players to compete in this week's playoff are:   Jeff Overton, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark, Dustin Johnson, Ben Crane, Bo Van Pelt, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas, Zach Johnson, Robert Allenby, J.B. Holmes, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald, Ryan Palmer, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey, Nick Watney, Ricky Barnes, Adam Scott, K.J. Choi, Sean O'Hair, Geoff Ogilvy, Brandt Snedeker,  Lucas Glover, Ian Poulter, Y.E. Yang, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington, V.J. Singh, Steve Elkington and Kenny Perry.  (For the complete field go to PGA TOUR.COM)

The other tournaments hosting the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup are the Deutsche Bank Championship (narrowed to a field of 100 players), the BMW Championship (70 players) and the season-ending THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP presented by Coca-Cola (30 players).

Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Steve Milton is Director of CBS Sports' golf coverage.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

* * *

CBS Sports Contact:   Robin Brendle               212/975-1533              rlbrendle@cbs.com