“I was fighting some internal demons there”, he said.
Advertisement
Nothing brought out more emotion than his only bogey.
But the world No 5 again came to grief at the 12th, where he ran up a triple-bogey in the first round, pulling his second long and left and being forced to take a penalty drop before getting up and down from the fringe to narrowly avoid another seven.
Several former Deutsche Bank champions missed the cut, including two-time event victor Vijay Singh of Fiji (75), 2010 victor Charley Hoffman (75), 2007 champ Phil Mickelson (72) and 2011 titlist Webb Simpson (72).
Open champion Henrik Stenson slipped to joint 30th after a one-under-par 70, the Swede’s cause hindered by a double-bogey at the par-four first – his 10th hole of the day – and then bogeys on four and five.
Northern Ireland’s world number five Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson are tied for 67th six shots back.
He is happier with his stroke after tweaking his grip last week, and will need a hot putter on Monday to have a chance of posting a 12th PGA Tour victory, starting the final round six strokes behind English leader Paul Casey.
Reigning Deutsche Bank champion and world No. 8 Rickie Fowler is one behind that grouping, tied for 38th, after carding four birdies and a pair of bogeys.
He had three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine, birdied four of the first five on the back nine and made his lone bogey on the par-3 16th. He followed with an eagle from 135 yards on the par-4 third hole. Sweden’s Alex Noren shot 66 and was one stroke back.
At level par, the four time major champion will believe he has played himself back into contention for a tournament he is keen to win. He missed the cut in his next two weeks, but spent time at home working on his game and appears to have returned to form.
Casey was faced with a hard second shot on the risk-reward par-five 18th hole.
Thirteen players who were at No. 70 or lower in the FedEx Cup missed the cut, meaning their season is over.
“Thankfully everyone is now resting comfortably”, said Day, who is tied for 48th with Fiji’s Vijay Singh and 2014 Deutsche Bank victor Chris Kirk among others.
Hend is chasing a second title on the European Tour this season after victory in Thailand in March, and the 43-year-old could have been even more handily placed if not for a bogey on the final hole.
Mi Hyang Lee had a 71, Minjee Lee shot 68, and Icher 66.
Jutanugarn closed with birdie to join Thailand’s P.K. Kongkraphan (69) at 12 under.
DAY SCARE: Jason Day opened with a 70, and then came the real stress.
Chappell is attempting to become the first player to record his first career win in a FedExCup playoff event since Camilo Villegas won the BMW Championship in 2008.
Three strokes behind defending champion Jeff Maggert entering the round, the 51-year-old Franco shot his second straight 7-under 63 to beat Bernhard Langer and Michael Allen by two strokes.
Mickelson finally finished 10 strokes off the lead, tied for 93rd.
Advertisement
Olympic champion Justin Rose was bracketed in a group on 68, three-under par, which included Claret Jug victor Henrik Stenson and US PGA title holder Jimmy Walker.
