Furyk out of Barclays for missing pro-am

Many people will be watching the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs this weekend to see how Tiger Woods will do, especially in light of his divorce that was announced Monday. Among the interested TV viewers will be Jim Furyk, the No. 3 player in the FedEx Cup rankings, who was tossed out of The Barclays tournament because he missed the pro-am Wednesday.

"I overslept," Furyk said at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. "I always use my phone as an alarm and it had no power this morning. I don't know if something happened with the charger, but I never got it. I woke up at 7:23 and tore out of there, put a pair of pants on and shirt. I actually got into the locker room at 7:35, but I guess I had to be on the tee [then]."

Furyk was ruled ineligible (the Tour pointed out that technically, he was not disqualified) for violating the rule that says a player cannot play in a tournament if he misses the pro-am. It was designed to protect the pro-ams, the lifeblood of pro tournaments because amateurs pay large sums to play 18 holes with pros. So Furyk will not be on the tee when the tournament begins Thursday.

"A commitment to play in the tournament is a commitment to play in the pro-am," said Slugger White, vice president of rules and competitions for the PGA Tour. "It is unfortunate for Jim and for the tournament. He is a fan favorite and everybody likes him ... but my hands are tied."

Phil Mickelson strongly disputed that logic, pointing out that not everyone in the 125-member field was scheduled to be in the pro-am. Mostly, the high-profile golfers were enlisted to play.

"It's got to be a different penalty. It can't be disqualification if it only applies to half the field," Mickelson said. "So this rule, it's not protecting the players. It's not protecting the sponsors. It applies to only half the field and yet it affects the integrity of the competition. I cannot disagree with it more. I have no idea how the commissioner let this rule go through. It's ridiculous."

Mickelson suggested Furyk should have been required to make an appearance in one of the hospitality tents.

Woods, who said he and his ex-wife, Elin, are "sad," recalled John Daly once ran into a similar situation as Furyk's. "It's tough," Woods said. "It's a new rule, and we don't have to agree with it. But it is our new policy."

Furyk is not out of the four-week playoffs, but his chance of finishing first overall took a huge tumble. He could fall to No. 19 on the FedEx Cup list this week. "I played my heart out all year," he said. "I'm beside myself, but I have a way of climbing into stupid situations."

But he did add, "The rules are rules."