Shootout at Cog Hill as players aim for spot in Tour finale

American Webb Simpson leads an elite field of 70 players preparing for a shootout at Cog Hill this week as they aim for a spot in the lucrative season-ending Tour Championship.With his last three starts producing his first two career wins, Simpson enters the BMW Championship as the surprise leader of the FedEx standings but with every player in the field still mathematically alive to capture the FedExCup.The tight standings sets up tense weekend at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club with only the top 30 moving onto Atlanta for the Championship and a shot at the $10 million first prize.Just earning a ticket to East Lake Golf Club will bring plenty of perks, among them entry into next years first three majors and invitations to the Players championship, the WGC Championship and three Invitational events (Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and Colonial).You know, $10 million is a ridiculously large amount of money and an unbelievable prize, Simpson told reporters. At the end of the day, we want to win golf tournaments but when $10 million is at stake, you cant not think about that.Part of me is kind of happy this week isnt determining whos going to win because you get one more week to focus on the golf.I know in Atlanta itll be a lot more focus Im sure on the $10 million.American Dustin Johnson, currently second in the FedEx standings behind Simpson, will also like his chances of a big payday as he defends his title on the Dubsdread course that last year came under attack for its bumpy greens and generally poor condition.Despite the criticism, Matt Kuchar, who holds down third place in the standings, also has good memories of Cog Hill winning the U.S. Amateur title here in 1997 and finishing runner-up to Johnson last year.Britains world number one Luke Donald, who attended nearby Northwestern University and will be a gallery favorite when play begins on Thursday, enters the BMW in fourth and will try to close out a great season on a high.