Five players may control their FedEx Cup fate, but none currently is in line to claim the prize and its $10 million bonus.
After two rounds of the Tour Championship, the PGA Tour playoff finale, four of the top five points leaders have slipped well down the leader board. With two more rounds to play at East Lake Golf Club, Adam Scott leads the tournament and the projected standings for the FedEx Cup title.
Scott is 8 under par, one stroke ahead of K.J. Choi and two strokes ahead of Jason Day and Luke Donald. Scott birdied the final two holes, including the difficult 18th, for a round of 5-under 65.
“There was some sloppy stuff early on, and I managed to put it all back together,” said Scott, who had three bogeys and a birdie in his first six holes. “So I’m happy with that after a poor start, but I’m in great shape with two days to go.”
Of the players that needed only to win the Tour Championship to claim the playoff title, only Donald is in serious contention. Although, the world’s No. 1 player has not jumped high enough to take over the top spot, he is tied for third at 6 under.
“I am kind of trying to focus on trying to win the event,” Donald said. “I know if I do that, then everything that I want will be accomplished.”
The rest of the FedEx Five are well off the pace.
- No. 1 Webb Simpson (minus-1) shot an even-par 70 and is in a two-way tie for 19th in the 30-player field. He battled back from a poor start as he was 3 over after five holes with three consecutive bogeys. He ran in a 43-foot eagle putt on No. 15 to make up some ground.
- No. 2 Dustin Johnson (plus-3) is in a two-way tie for 26th after he shot a 3-over 73.
- No. 3 Justin Rose (plus-4) is in by far the worse spot. He is last, tied with two others, after a round of 5-over 75.
- No. 5 Matt Kuchar (minus-3) shot an even-par 70 and is in a five-way tie for 10th.
Scott entered the Tour Championship ranked 19th in the FedEx Cup points standings. He birdied four consecutive holes, Nos. 7-10, to start his assault.
Scott needs to win the tournament and have Simpson finish 13th or worse, Johnson finish fifth or worse, Rose finish fourth or worse and Donald, Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker all finish third or worse. All those scenarios are in place after the second round.
“I’ve got to win, and I imagine Webb must have to finish pretty low to give me a chance,” said Scott, who won the Tour Championship at East Lake in 2006. “That’s all I know. I don’t know anything past that. I just figured if I win this week, I’ll be happy no matter what.”
There is precedent for a player outside the top five capturing the FedEx Cup title. Last year Jim Furyk won the Tour Championship and moved from 11th place when points leader Kuchar tied for 25th.
There is a long way to go, and the top of the leader board is crowded.
Second-place Choi birdied two of his first three holes to get off to a good start.
“I definitely had good rhythm today,” Choi said through an interpreter. “Good rhythm leads to great confidence.”
Bubba Watson, who played at Georgia, shot the low round of the day with a 6-under 64. He leads a group of four players tied at 5 under. Included in the group are Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, and first-round leader Keegan Bradley.
“Oh, I’m not worried about 10 mil,” Watson said of his long-shot FedEx Cup chances. “I’m worried about trying to win this golf tournament.”
Thursday’s final pairing of Bradley and Jason Dufner, who faced each other in a playoff at the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club last month, combined to shoot 1 over. Dufner is ninth at 4 under.
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