FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) Patrick Reed had a fast start and hung on against tough Bethpage Black for a 3-under 68 and a two-shot lead in The Barclays. On the third hit, the top of the gavel flew off into the crowd. Here’s how things stand after 18 holes at Bethpage Black.
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Johnson, the 2011 Barclays victor, and Phil Mickelson are among a large group tied for 20th after firing opening-round 70s.
Reed was at eight-under 134. “Normally they’re majors. But 4 under makes up a lot of ground”.
But how much of that incentive is because it would boost Fowler’s chances of making the US roster for the upcoming Ryder Cup, which begins on September 30 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota?
The victor of the Barclays gets $1.53 million.
Asked after his round how much the Ryder Cup is on his mind, Fowler did not mince words.
Reed, whose last victory came in a playoff against this year’s PGA champion Jimmy Walker at the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions, is seventh in the FedExCup standings while Laird is 89th.
Reed, meanwhile, is the equivalent of $30,655 ahead of J.B. Holmes, who missed the cut last week at the Wyndham Championship.
Rickie Fowler knows exactly where he stands.
“It’s about consistency: consistently getting in contention, consistently having chances to win”. Anyone beyond the top 100 has no chance of extending the season. And then it was nearly too late.
“It was really good”, he said. This year, he didn’t qualify for the playoffs. “It’s been a little stop-start”.
Matt Jones wasn’t as fortunate. Jones missed by nine points.
He competed for the U.S.in the recent Olympics for more than simply Ryder Cup-related reasons, though his enthusiasm to represent his country certainly didn’t hurt.
The 18-year-old Henderson was 1 under with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness. “The grass is the same as here – the same zoysia, putting greens, everything”.
“I left some shots out there today, especially late in the round”.
“It’s worth it”, she said. It’s rare when we play tournaments on courses this challenging.
BEAT THE PRO: The KLM Open is taking fan involvement to a new level this year. Only 121 players will tee it up at Bethpage. “It pays to be closer on those second shots”.
“This will be an absolute highlight for the players and fans”, Joost Luiten said.
“I’m thinking about it; the other guys are thinking about it”, he said.
Some players – especially those of the elite variety – might consider their seasons a disappointment without a single trophy for the mantle, but Reed maintains that he can still have a successful campaign without one. On the contrary, I think they will love it.
Patrick Reed holds a two-stroke lead at The Barclays after the second round as the FedEx Cup play-offs continued on Friday.
Actually, there will be no commercials at all.
“Any time you’re at the top of the leaderboard, you feel good”, Reed told reporters after recording four birdies in his first seven holes and two bogeys in his last three.
The new sponsorship deals are through 2020.
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EARLY EXITS: British Open champion Henrik Stenson had planned to skip one of the FedEx Cup playoff events because of a busy schedule at the end of the year, including his trip to Rio for a silver medal in golf. That includes his rookie year in 2013 when he started the year without a card. Day, who won previous year when the tournament was held at Plainfield Country Club, returned a 68. He won the North & South twice, and the senior version six times. Vijay Singh is the only player to win The Barclays and go on to win the FedEx Cup. After making the turn, he turned on the jets. “And I guess the Olympic gold would be a nice coaster for the glass of wine”.
