It’s likely you won’t be hearing from Alex for a little while because he’s slipped into a blogging-induced coma.

And now that I’m back, a few quick assessments of the week:

What a week it’s been. We’ve made it through the first-ever PGA Tour playoff event and all things considered, I think it was a great success.

Will people every take this playoff system as seriously as golf’s four major championships? Probably not. Still, this does add a new dimension and it clearly brings more attention to the sport.

Is the system perfect? No, but for a first go-round I think it makes sense. The re-setting of the points before these four events seems to be a pretty fair combination. The players who have done well all year get rewarded, but those who haven’t still have a shot, all be it a long one, to capture the FedExCup.

Putting an emphasis on these four events is like creating a shorter season within a season and it has clearly drummed up plenty of excitement. It’s got me pumped to play myself after being a spectator all week and I plan on getting in 36 holes tomorrow…

Anyway, it was great getting to see it all unfold and it was a pleasure to be able to share what was going on here at Westchester Country Club with you all. Thanks again for all of the questions, comments and support throughout the week.

It’s been fun, but I will now turn this blog back over to it’s rightful owner, Mr. Golf, Sam Weinman. Enjoy the rest of your summer and hit ‘em straight.

Okay, time to grade how Team Journal News did with its predictions one last time.

Rick Carpiniello and Mike Dougherty edged out first place honors with their Ernie Els prediction. Els finished at 12-under, one shot ahead of Josh Thomson and Erin Bruehl’s pick, Phil Mickelson.

Susie Arth’s mulligan pick of Mark Calcavecchia also finished at 12-under so she made a nice recovery. In the same boat was my pick of Adam Scott, who finished in a tie for 14th place at 8-under.

Pretty weak that such an astute group of sports reporters couldn’t pick the winner. Then again, who would have picked someone that hadn’t won a stroke play event in over a decade.

The Barclays, the first-ever PGA playoff event has concluded. The event gave the fans all they could possibly want as big names covered the leaderboard all week and provided plenty of drama down the stretch.

No one gave this tournament away, but rather one player, Steve Stricker, won it. By birdieing the final three holes, Stricker clearly earned his first PGA Tour victory since the 2001 Accenture World Match Play Championship and his first stroke-play win since 1996.

With the win, Stricker is now No. 1 on the FedExCup points list. K.J. Choi is in 2nd place followed by Rory Sabbatini and uh oh, Tiger Woods. The world’s No. 1 player decided not to play this week, but is still in good shape to win this first ever FedExCup, especially since those right behind him like Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk failed to hop past him.

Still, with three players in front of him and players like Singh, Furyk and Phil Mickelson right on his heels, Tiger will have to play well in the next three events to capture the PGA’s first ever playoff.

Does anyone out there honestly believe he won’t win it though?

Steve Stricker just wrapped up his first PGA Tour win in over six years in fantastic fashion. Just needing a two-putt, he drained an eight-footer for birdie to finish at 16-under and two shots clear of runner-up K.J. Choi.

Stricker fell behind Choi after the South Korean birdied the 15th hole, but he responded in a big way by birdieing the final three holes to pick up the victory. Afterwards, it was a great showing of sportsmanship as the two embraced.

Stricker was especially emotional as he was interviewed just off the 18th green. Considered washed up by many, he’s now playing the best golf of his life and has emerged as one of the best players in the world.

K.J. Choi and Steve Stricker will both have make-able birdie putts coming up on the 18th hole. Stricker, however, holds a one-shot lead and is putting from below the hole, so he is clearly in the driver’s seat.

Meanwhile, CBS was forced to show poor Hunter Mahan tapping in for a 76. The score is 14 shots worse than what he managed just yesterday.

Rory Sabbatini just birdied his final two holes to finish at 13-under, officially ending any chance of a playoff involving Calc, the Big Easy and the Big O. What an up-and-down round for the Sabbatini, who only had seven pars during his 3-under 68.

Still, this marks another missed chance for Sabbatini to pick up a big win. For some reason, I don’t think Tiger Woods is shedding any tears while watching from his home.

The day started with such promise for young Hunter Mahan. After tying the course record with a 9-under 62 yesterday, Mahan has crumbled while playing in the final group of the day with leaders Steve Stricker and K.J. Choi.

At 5-over on the day, Mahan has fallen to 7-under overall and in a tie for 17th place currently.

Steve Stricker just knocked in his short birdie putt on No. 17 to regain the lead by himself at 15-under par. He now heads to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead over playing partner K.J. Choi.

Ahead of him, Ernie Els managed to make birdie, but The Big O, Geoff Ogilvy could only make par. That means Els, Ogilvy and Mark Calcavecchia currently share the clubhouse lead at 12-under.

That’s only going to last for another few minutes, however, unless Stricker and Choi do their best impressions of Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999.

Following a beautiful recovery shot to the front of the 17th green from the right rough by K.J. Choi, Steve Stricker calmly stepped up and stuck his approach to within four feet.

After a birdie at No. 16, it appears Stricker is about to add another one to regain the lead. Pretty good stuff from someone who hasn’t won a PGA tournament since 2001.