The US PGA Tour's inaugural FedExCup playoff series starts today with the Barclays Classic, and golfers are wondering just how the four-tournament season finale will work out.

A $10m bonus will be awarded to the points leader of the series played over four successive weeks, ending with a field of 30 at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

"I think it's a bigger thing if you win it than if you don't win it," British Open champion Padraig Harrington told reporters at Westchester Country Club.

The absence of world number one Tiger Woods from the first playoff event will slow the series right out of the gate.

Woods is one of six players from the 144 who qualified on points skipping the Barclays.

By virtue of his big points lead, Woods is assured of a berth in the Tour Championship regardless of results from the first three events.

Each tournament in the series has a $7 million purse.

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